A $117 Million XRP Deal Just Happened, And No One Knows Who Did It

bitcoinistPublished on 2026-02-20Last updated on 2026-02-20

Abstract

A staggering $117 million worth of XRP (81 million tokens) was transferred between two unidentified wallets on the Ripple blockchain, drawing significant attention due to its scale and anonymity. Crypto analyst Ripple Bull Winkle shared on-chain data confirming the transaction but noted that the identities of the sender and receiver remain unknown. The lack of exchange involvement and wallet labels has led to speculation that a whale may be accumulating XRP ahead of a potential market shift or acting on insider information. The transfer occurred amid a broader decline in XRP’s price, which has fallen from 2025 highs above $3 to under $1.50. Market analyst Crypto Tony described the current trend as "most certainly bearish," suggesting further downside toward $1.38. Commenters are divided on whether the move signals upcoming selling or is merely a routine operational transfer.

A staggering $117 million worth of XRP has just shifted hands on the Ripple blockchain in a transaction that has left even seasoned crypto watchers wondering about the wallets involved. According to data publicly shared by crypto analyst Ripple Bull Winkle, on-chain records include timestamps, exact amounts, hashes, and transaction fees, but nothing about the identities of the sender or receiver.

Analyst Reveals Under-The-Radar XRP Transfer

A massive 81 million XRP, valued at roughly $117 million, was transferred on the Ripple network, and the identities behind it remain unknown. Ripple Bull Winkle revealed the move in a post on X, sharing screenshots of on-chain data from Whale Alert showing millions of the token shifting between two crypto wallets with no labels, no exchange involvement, and no public trace.

Notably, the large-scale transfer took place on Tuesday, February 17, drawing the crypto community’s attention for its sheer scale and anonymity. According to Ripple Bull Winkle, transactions of this size never happen by accident. He suggested that the movement was deliberate, hinting at strategic positioning rather than a routine transfer.

Source: Chart from Ripple Bull Winkle on X

The analyst also noted that the lack of identifiable wallets also fuels speculation that a whale may be accumulating XRP ahead of an event or market shift, though nothing is certain yet. He further remarked that “someone knows something,” implying that insiders or large holders may be acting on information not yet visible to the broader crypto market.

Interestingly, Ripple’s blockchain logs confirm the transfer and provide the wallet addresses involved, but reveal nothing about who orchestrated the substantial transfer. The timing of the transaction amid the broader decline in the XRP price adds another layer of intrigue. Notably, the altcoin has been in a pronounced downtrend for months, dropping from 2025 highs above $3 to under $1.5 at the time of writing. This steep decline has been driven by a combination of market factors, including sell-side pressure.

Commenters on Ripple Bull Winkle’s post have speculated that the 81 million XRP transfer could signal upcoming selling. At the same time, they also caution that the move may have no deeper significance and could simply be a wallet-to-wallet transfer for security or operational purposes.

The Trend Remains Largely Bearish

In a more price-focused analysis, market analyst Crypto Tony stated that XRP’s current trend is “most certainly bearish.” This assessment comes as the cryptocurrency continues to break key support zones and trade below former resistance levels.

Crypto Tony indicated that the altcoin’s price could continue its downtrend, potentially declining further toward $1.38. At its current price of 1.42, this would represent a significant correction of approximately 2.8%. Notably, the analyst has highlighted a resistance level above $1.5 on his accompanying chart, suggesting XRP could revisit this area if it regains bullish momentum.

XRP trading at $1.41 on the 1D chart | Source: XRPUSDT on Tradingview.com

Trending Cryptos

Related Questions

QWhat was the total value of the XRP transaction that occurred on the Ripple blockchain, as mentioned in the article?

AThe total value of the XRP transaction was $117 million.

QAccording to the article, which crypto analyst first revealed and shared on-chain data about the large XRP transfer?

AThe crypto analyst Ripple Bull Winkle first revealed and shared the on-chain data about the transfer in a post on X.

QWhat reason did Ripple Bull Winkle suggest for the large, anonymous transfer of 81 million XRP?

ARipple Bull Winkle suggested the movement was deliberate, hinting at strategic positioning, and that a whale may be accumulating XRP ahead of an event or market shift.

QWhat is the current bearish price target for XRP mentioned by market analyst Crypto Tony?

AMarket analyst Crypto Tony indicated that XRP's price could continue its downtrend, potentially declining further toward $1.38.

QWhat key piece of information is missing from the on-chain data regarding this large XRP transaction?

AThe on-chain data is missing the identities of the sender and receiver; the wallets involved have no labels and the transfer had no exchange involvement.

Related Reads

In-depth: The Foreign Guest Genspark

The article "The Foreign Guest: Genspark" investigates the identity and business practices of AI startup Genspark, which presents itself as a Palo Alto-based "AI Costco" offering a subscription bundle of over 70 models and numerous AI agent tools. Despite its official Silicon Valley narrative, Genspark's founding team has deep roots in Chinese tech giant Baidu, a history systematically downplayed in its branding. The company actively cultivates an image as an elite US firm, heavily publicizing partnerships and endorsements from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Microsoft, while distancing itself from the Chinese AI community and obscuring its connections to Chinese investors and open-weight models (like those from DeepSeek, Moonshot AI, and MiniMax) that power its services. Genspark's core strategy involves rapidly cloning and integrating successful AI product concepts (e.g., from Perplexity, Manus, Plaud) into its unified platform, supported by aggressive marketing, including Super Bowl ads and paid native content in publications like The Wall Street Journal. Critically, the article suggests a significant portion of its engineering and product development is conducted by a team in Beijing, operating outside its official US corporate structure. This duality allows Genspark to leverage Chinese talent and models for efficiency and cost reduction while constructing a public facade as a purely American success story. The piece concludes that Genspark's most effective agent is its own corporate identity, meticulously engineered to obscure its Chinese underpinnings and be perceived solely as a Silicon Valley company.

marsbit1m ago

In-depth: The Foreign Guest Genspark

marsbit1m ago

Debate: Korean Workers Fear Unemployment, While Musk Envisions a Society 'Without Work'?

While South Korean auto workers fear job losses from robotics, Elon Musk envisions a future where AI and robots render most work optional. This article explores the growing tension between immediate anxieties over automation and long-term visions of a post-work society. The piece begins with recent strikes at Hyundai's Korean plants, where unions, amid standard wage negotiations, also sought job guarantees against advancing robotics—specifically mentioning Boston Dynamics' Atlas. This reflects how anxiety about technological displacement is emerging even before robots are fully capable of replacing skilled labor on assembly lines. The author argues that while current robotics still struggle with the nuanced, experiential knowledge of veteran workers, the *perception* of imminent replacement is fueling social conflict prematurely. This modern "Luddite" sentiment is compared to the 19th-century English textile workers who smashed machines. Historically, Luddites weren't simply anti-technology; they were protesting the rapid devaluation of their skills and the unequal distribution of productivity gains. Similarly, today's workers ask who will bear the cost of transition and share in the new wealth created by machines. In contrast, figures like Elon Musk propose an optimistic endpoint: with AI and robotics driving extreme abundance, the link between work and survival could break. He suggests concepts like "Universal High Income" could allow society to share the technological bounty, transforming work from a necessity into a choice. The core challenge, however, lies in the transition. The author notes that technology's benefits diffuse slowly, while its disruptive costs—job losses, skill obsolescence—can be concentrated and immediate. The risk is a painful interim period where productivity gains are captured by a few before new social contracts, safety nets, and retraining systems are established. The conclusion calls for proactive governance. Just as past industrial revolutions gave rise to labor standards and social safety nets, the robotics era needs its own frameworks. These should address job transition support, distribution of productivity gains, safety liability, and ethical deployment. Embracing such "constraints" is not opposition to progress but a necessary step to ensure technology benefits society broadly. The discussion sparked by Hyundai's workers, therefore, is not premature but essential.

marsbit14m ago

Debate: Korean Workers Fear Unemployment, While Musk Envisions a Society 'Without Work'?

marsbit14m ago

CATL Invests in a 00s Graduate from Harbin Institute of Technology

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) has exclusively invested in the Pre-A round of RoboParty, a company founded by 22-year-old Huang Yi. A former student at Harbin Institute of Technology, Huang built a bipedal humanoid robot in his dorm room and later dropped out to launch RoboParty in Shanghai. The company focuses on developing a fully open-source platform for humanoid robots, combining self-developed hardware, operating systems (Party OS), and foundational models. RoboParty's strategy emphasizes open-source collaboration to accelerate development and build a developer ecosystem, positioning itself as foundational infrastructure for embodied AI. Since its 2025 founding, the team—composed largely of top-tier university graduates—has secured six funding rounds in eight months, with investors including Matrix Partners, Xiaomi, and now CATL. This investment by CATL's corporate venture arm signals strong industry confidence in RoboParty's potential for real-world manufacturing and complex scenarios. Huang Yi prioritizes technological excellence and developer community growth over rapid commercialization. The company has already garnered significant interest from developers and research institutions globally. With a focus on continuous, rapid iteration and open innovation, RoboParty aims to prove the versatility of humanoid robots and drive the field toward an open-source future.

marsbit17m ago

CATL Invests in a 00s Graduate from Harbin Institute of Technology

marsbit17m ago

Will SpaceX's First Quarterly Report Rescue Its Stock Price Under the Pressure of 1.2 Billion Shares Unlocking?

SpaceX is set to release its first quarterly earnings report since going public, a key test for its stock which has declined 20% from its IPO price. Approximately 9.12 billion shares are set to unlock on August 6, with an additional 3.19 billion following a week later, creating potential selling pressure from early investors. A strong report may be the only catalyst to reverse the downtrend. The report will cover three segments: Space, Connectivity (Starlink), and AI. The AI business, centered on the merged xAI, is the biggest uncertainty. While it generated $818 million in revenue last quarter, it also reported a $2.5 billion operating loss and $7.7 billion in capital expenditures. New data center rental agreements with Anthropic and Google, particularly the substantial $1.25 billion monthly deal with Anthropic, add significant revenue variability this quarter. Investors await guidance on AI's future outlook and the timeline for launching AI computing satellites via Starship. Starlink remains the stable profit driver, ending last quarter with 10.3 million subscribers. Key metrics will be user growth, average revenue per user (ARPU), and enterprise/government contract backlogs. The Space segment, which posted a $657 million operating loss last quarter, will be scrutinized for updates on Starship development following its 13th test flight and the pace of Falcon 9 launches, many of which support internal Starlink deployment. Wall Street expects Q2 revenue of around $6.9 billion and EBITDA of $2.1 billion. However, as this is the first earnings report, analyst forecasts lack a historical baseline and could see significant variance. With a current market cap of ~$1.4 trillion and a high valuation, the market's reaction post-earnings will hinge on the report's strength, the magnitude of post-lockup selling, and ongoing investor concerns.

marsbit18m ago

Will SpaceX's First Quarterly Report Rescue Its Stock Price Under the Pressure of 1.2 Billion Shares Unlocking?

marsbit18m ago

Trading

Spot

Hot Articles

How to Buy ONE

Welcome to HTX.com! We've made purchasing Harmony (ONE) simple and convenient. Follow our step-by-step guide to embark on your crypto journey.Step 1: Create Your HTX AccountUse your email or phone number to sign up for a free account on HTX. Experience a hassle-free registration journey and unlock all features.Get My AccountStep 2: Go to Buy Crypto and Choose Your Payment MethodCredit/Debit Card: Use your Visa or Mastercard to buy Harmony (ONE) instantly.Balance: Use funds from your HTX account balance to trade seamlessly.Third Parties: We've added popular payment methods such as Google Pay and Apple Pay to enhance convenience.P2P: Trade directly with other users on HTX.Over-the-Counter (OTC): We offer tailor-made services and competitive exchange rates for traders.Step 3: Store Your Harmony (ONE)After purchasing your Harmony (ONE), store it in your HTX account. Alternatively, you can send it elsewhere via blockchain transfer or use it to trade other cryptocurrencies.Step 4: Trade Harmony (ONE)Easily trade Harmony (ONE) on HTX's spot market. Simply access your account, select your trading pair, execute your trades, and monitor in real-time. We offer a user-friendly experience for both beginners and seasoned traders.

4.7k Total ViewsPublished 2024.03.29Updated 2026.06.02

How to Buy ONE

Discussions

Welcome to the HTX Community. Here, you can stay informed about the latest platform developments and gain access to professional market insights. Users' opinions on the price of ONE (ONE) are presented below.

活动图片