XRP Surges 12% as Whales Drive Massive Accumulation, ETF Speculation Grows
XRP has experienced a sharp 12% price increase amid ongoing market uncertainty, fueled by aggressive whale accumulation and growing speculation about a potential XRP ETF listing in the U.S., according to crypto analysts.
XRP Hits Multi-Year High
The token reached $2.69 on January 14, its highest price since December 17, 2024, and continued climbing to $2.83, a level not seen since early 2018, according to CoinMarketCap data. Santiment, a leading crypto analysis firm, noted that whales are significantly contributing to the rally.
Whale Accumulation Accelerates
Santiment revealed that wallets holding between 1 million and 10 million XRP tokens have been on an “enormous accumulation” spree. Since November 12, these wallets have added 1.43 billion XRP, representing a 37.4% increase in holdings.
This accumulation trend aligns with rising speculation about an XRP ETF listing in 2025. Sean Dawson, head of research at on-chain protocol Derive, believes that a potential XRP ETF, coupled with capital rotation from Bitcoin to altcoins, is bolstering bullish sentiment.
Legal and Regulatory Developments
XRP’s ongoing legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) remains a focal point. Dawson suggested that the SEC’s potential appeal against Ripple’s recent legal victory will likely occur under a pro-crypto administration, which could influence SEC policies and enforcement favorably for XRP.
Market Outlook and Institutional Interest
Major financial institutions are also optimistic about XRP’s prospects. JPMorgan recently projected that XRP exchange-traded products (ETPs) could outperform spot Ether ETFs in their first six months, potentially attracting $4 billion to $8 billion in net new assets.
Blockchain advocate David Gokhshtein weighed in, tweeting that “XRP holders deserve this,” as the token continues its upward trajectory after a prolonged consolidation phase throughout 2024.
Key Takeaways
- XRP’s price spike is driven by whale accumulation and ETF speculation.
- Wallets holding 1 million to 10 million XRP have increased their holdings by 37.4% since November 2024.
- Analysts highlight the potential impact of XRP ETFs and favorable regulatory developments.
- Institutional interest, including JPMorgan projections, further supports bullish sentiment for XRP.
As XRP reaches new multi-year highs, the combination of strong on-chain activity, growing institutional interest, and positive regulatory developments positions the token for significant growth in 2025.
