Whales Signal Potential End to Crypto Bear Market Through XRP Accumulation
Major cryptocurrency holders are quietly building positions in XRP and other digital assets as the market shows signs the prolonged bear cycle may be approaching its end.
Major Holders Accumulating at Lower Prices
Research from CryptoQuant reveals that the largest holders of XRP, Bitcoin, and Ethereum are actively adding to their positions near or below their average acquisition costs. According to Julio Moreno, head of research at CryptoQuant, this behavior from the largest cohorts of holders is significant because it reduces downside pressure and signals positioning consistent with the final phase of the market’s extended decline. While prices remain relatively depressed, these major participants are absorbing supply rather than capitulating or withdrawing from the market.
On-Chain Signals Point to Quiet Accumulation
For XRP specifically, the on-chain data from CryptoQuant paints a picture of measured, methodical buying activity. The token has been holding within a $1.00–$1.20 trading band with a $66 billion market capitalization, and larger order sizes remain in the “big whale” range despite this relatively narrow price action. However, the 90-day taker cumulative volume delta—a metric tracking aggressive buying and selling pressure—has drifted to neutral, suggesting roughly equal levels of buying and selling forces. CryptoQuant interprets this pattern as a calm accumulation phase where major holders are placing large, deliberate buy orders but without aggressive price-pushing activity. The market appears to be in a steady state where large participants are accumulating while maintaining equilibrium, neither fleeing nor aggressively rallying.
Technical Backdrop Confirms Cycle Exhaustion
The technical analysis of XRP’s daily chart supports the on-chain narrative of cycle maturation rather than continued breakdown. The token exhibits a death cross pattern, where the 50-day exponential moving average has dropped below the 200-day average—a traditional bearish signal. XRP is currently trading below both moving averages after declining from around $2.20 in early 2026 to its current range near $1. Despite these technical red flags, other indicators suggest the selling pressure may be reaching exhaustion. The relative strength index stands at 39.5, below the 50-midpoint that separates bearish from bullish momentum but not yet entering oversold conditions at 30. The average directional index reads 10.4, indicating an absence of strong directional trend—instead, the market is displaying choppy, ranging behavior without decisive conviction.
A notable gap exists between XRP’s realized price (approximately $0.75, representing the average cost basis of holders) and the current market price (around $1.10). CryptoQuant identifies this gap as characteristic of late-stage bear markets. Squeeze momentum remains off with negative momentum, indicating compressed volatility—the market is basing and consolidating rather than experiencing the accelerating selling that would signal continued capitulation. Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies display similar dynamics, suggesting this could represent a crucial inflection point for the broader market.
If major holders are indeed accumulating near cycle lows while technical indicators show fatigue rather than momentum, this positioning could prove pivotal for XRP’s near-term trajectory as the market potentially transitions from bear-market lows toward recovery.
Source: CryptoQuant, via Decrypt. Not financial advice.