What To Know:
- XRP millionaire wallets are increasing for the first time since September 2025, with 42 new wallets holding over one million tokens returning to the network, according to Santiment.
- Large holders and smart money investors are accumulating despite weak price action, with Nansen data showing an 11.55% rise in smart money XRP holdings over the past 30 days.
- The accumulation trend contrasts with cautious market sentiment, as XRP remains down about 4% year to date while analysts remain split on whether a breakout or continued consolidation lies ahead.
Ripple’s native crypto XRP may be entering 2026 without strong price momentum, but on-chain data suggests a positive trend is forming as the number of millionaire wallets increases.
After weeks of muted trading, large investors are beginning to rebuild positions. New figures from crypto analytics firm Santiment show that the number of XRP wallets holding at least one million tokens has started to climb again. It marks the first sustained increase in so-called millionaire wallets since September 2025.
XRP Millionaire Wallets On the Rise
The development comes even as XRP remains down roughly 4 percent year to date. Price action has been narrow, volatility subdued, and broader altcoin participation limited. Yet activity among high-value holders is moving in the opposite direction.
According to Santiment, 42 new wallets holding more than one million XRP have returned to the network since January 1. At current prices near $1.87, each wallet represents holdings worth approximately $1.87 million.
🐳🦈 XRP’s price is down a modest -4% since the start of 2026, but its amount of ‘millionaire’ wallets are rising for the first time since September. A net of +42 wallets with at least 1M $XRP have returned to the ledger, an encouraging sign for the long-term. pic.twitter.com/nmB4hCxtZO
— Santiment (@santimentfeed) January 28, 2026
Santiment described the trend as “an encouraging sign for the long term,” noting that accumulation by large holders often precedes broader market shifts.
Whale behavior is closely monitored across crypto markets. These wallets typically belong to institutions, long-term investors, or high-net-worth traders with the ability to deploy capital during periods of uncertainty. They move often based on conviction, not speculation. The recent uptick suggests that some of the market’s most capitalized participants view current prices as attractive entry levels. Other evidence backs up that perspective. According to blockchain analytics company Nansen, the accumulation of XRP by “smart money” traders has risen by 11.55 percent over the past 30 days.
These addresses are captured by consistent profitability and trading efficiency over market cycles. Retail engagement is still modest, but there is an early positioning of substantial holders. The rise in growth also dovetails with additional findings from the ETF issuer 21Shares. The company cited early signs of a developing supply shock for XRP, noting that available liquid tokens continue to decline as long-term holders increase balances. Even minor inflows might tighten the circulating supply if demand increases. Whale wallets coming back may compound that dynamic if accumulation persists through the first quarter.
For now, the market remains cautious.
XRP has struggled to gain traction alongside most alternative cryptocurrencies. The CoinMarketCap Altcoin Season Index currently shows a Bitcoin score of 31 out of 100, indicating that capital has remained concentrated in Bitcoin over the past 90 days.
Broader sentiment reflects similar hesitation. The Crypto Fear and Greed Index scored 26 in its most recent round, firmly in fear territory. Trading volumes remain subdued, and investors are reportedly wary of aggressively going into altcoins. XRP seems inching toward demolishing a stubborn sell wall, says crypto trader CW in a post on X.
Net buying activity has kept strong, and momentum signs suggest a reversal might be in the pipeline, according to the trader. If resistance yields, CW said the token could move toward the $2.30 threshold. 21Shares has emphasized XRP’s legacy of long consolidation periods followed by frenzied price rallies. As an underlying asset level, the firm said regulatory clarity and institutional infrastructure around the asset was getting greater, and the asset could continue to gain further appreciation, they added. Nevertheless, some observers caution that the token’s trajectory could rely heavily on some external developments. Swyftx lead analyst Pav Hundal said recently that short-term upside could come under scrutiny if U.S. regulatory procedures roll out in a surprising way. He had pointed to the next CLARITY Act voting and added that delays or unfavorable revisions could hurt sentiment.
Despite those risks, the steady rise in millionaire wallets stands out against an otherwise quiet market backdrop.
Also Read: Brad Garlinghouse’s X Activity Sparks Ripple Speculation Amid XRP Dip
