XRP whales absorb $72M as ETFs stall

TLDR

Large XRP (XRP) holders bought about 72 million XRP near $1 while spot XRP ETFs see slowed inflows and net assets hovering below $1 billion.

1. Whales added roughly 72 million XRP in 24 hours at the $1 support zone, lifting large-holder balances to about 12.18 billion XRP.
2. Spot XRP ETFs have attracted only about $3.27 million in inflows so far in August, with net assets around $942 million after slipping below the $1 billion mark.
3. The key question is whether whale accumulation and rising on-chain activity can keep $1 support intact as institutional ETF demand softens and regulatory clarity remains delayed.

Deep Dive

1. Whale Buying Near Crucial Support

Multiple reports show that XRP whales accumulated around 72 million XRP, roughly $72 million, in a single day at the $1 level, part of a broader multi-week accumulation trend. On-chain data cited by Santiment and analysts such as Ali Martinez indicates large holders have added more than 450 million XRP recently, pushing combined balances to about 12.18 billion XRP and increasing the number of wallets holding over 1 million XRP by 32. This activity clusters around a major weekly support zone near $1 that has held since late 2024, with some analysts flagging deeper levels near $0.87 to $0.80 if that zone fails.

2. ETFs Show Slowing Institutional Appetite

At the same time, spot XRP ETFs are losing momentum. Data summarized by outlets like TokenPost and U.Today reports that XRP ETFs saw only around $3.27 million of net inflows in the first half of August, with several sessions posting zero net flows and total ETF assets sliding to about $942 million, below the symbolic $1 billion threshold. Other coverage notes prior weeks where XRP ETF inflows collapsed over 90 percent while Bitcoin and Ethereum products still attracted capital, underscoring that institutional demand for XRP via ETFs is comparatively soft. A few funds, such as Bitwises XRP product, continue to record modest inflows, but overall flows are subdued versus earlier in the year.

3. Levels, Activity, And Catalysts To Watch

Network data shows active XRP Ledger addresses have risen from roughly 26,400 to 35,700 per day, while new addresses stay flat around 2,260, suggesting existing holders are driving most of the activity rather than a wave of new users. Exchange stats indicate elevated XRP withdrawals to private wallets, which may reduce immediate selling pressure but also shrink visible spot liquidity. On the macro side, delays to US crypto rulemaking and the CLARITY Act keep XRPs regulatory story unresolved, limiting how aggressively some institutions can scale ETF positions. Near term, traders are watching whether $1 and the lower support band around $0.87 to $0.80 hold, and whether ETF flows or regulatory news shift meaningfully from the current stalled pattern.

Conclusion

Whales are clearly leaning into XRP weakness, absorbing tens of millions of tokens around the $1 level just as ETF assets and inflows cool. If this large-holder support and rising on-chain activity are enough to defend key price zones, XRP could stabilize while waiting for clearer regulatory and ETF signals. If $1 gives way with ETF flows still muted, the same concentration of whale holdings that looks supportive today could amplify volatility on the next leg down.