XRP Price Falls 7% as Large-Holder Accumulation Signals Long-Term Strength

The XRP price has dropped 7% in the last 24 hours to trade at $1.78 as crypto analytics platform Santiment reports a steady increase in XRP wallets holding over 1 million tokens since the start of 2026, signaling potential long-term strength for the asset.

Since January 1, 42 additional “millionaire” wallets have returned to the ledger, reversing a decline of 784 wallets between October and December. At the current price, a million XRP tokens are worth approximately $1.78 million.

Santiment views this renewed accumulation as a positive indicator, showing that large holders remain confident in the network’s prospects. Supporting this trend, Nansen data shows that “smart money” traders, those with historically strong returns, have increased their XRP holdings by 11.55% over the past 30 days.

Analysts remain divided on XRP’s near-term trajectory. Crypto trader CW says on X that XRP could soon break through a major selling wall, potentially driving the price up to $2.30 if buying momentum continues.

XRP Shows Upside Despite Regulatory Concerns

Similarly, asset manager 21Shares highlighted XRP’s pattern of multi-year compression followed by sharp upward movements, alongside growing regulatory clarity and institutional support, as factors that could sustain further price appreciation.

Conversely, Swyftx lead analyst Pav Hundal warned that XRP’s upside may increasingly rely on narrative and could face pressure if the US CLARITY Act produces unexpected outcomes. Market signals also indicate caution: the CoinMarketCap Altcoin Season Index shows a Bitcoin-dominated trend at 31 out of 100, while the Crypto Fear & Greed Index posted a “fear” score of 26, reflecting cautious investor sentiment.

While accumulation by large holders and smart money points to potential long-term gains, short-term price action may remain sensitive to regulatory developments and broader market sentiment.

XRP Price Consolidates Near Key Support

The XRP/USDT 4-hour chart shows a well-defined technical structure over the past two months. After peaking near $2.40 in early January, XRP entered a clear bearish channel, marked by lower highs and lower lows, indicating persistent selling pressure.

The channel, highlighted in orange, acted as resistance along the upper trendline, while the lower trendline provided temporary support. This consistent downtrend reflects that sellers have dominated since the early-January rally, pushing XRP down toward the $1.80–$1.75 range.

XRPUSD Analysis Source: Tradingview

Currently, XRP is testing a consolidation zone around $1.78–$1.80, which has previously acted as a support area. This zone is highlighted as a potential bullish reversal region. The RSI reading of 33.63 is approaching oversold territory, suggesting that the selling momentum may be easing.

XRP Bulls Target Potential Reversal

If buying interest strengthens in this zone, XRP could attempt to break out of the bearish channel, targeting resistance levels near the mid-$1.90s and around $2.00.

On the other hand, a decisive break below $1.75 would indicate further downside risk, with the possibility of retesting levels near $1.65. Traders should closely watch price action within the consolidation zone for potential reversal signals and track RSI behavior for early signs of momentum shifts. The combination of the bearish channel, consolidation support, and momentum indicators provides a clear framework for short-term trading decisions and risk management.