Whales keep selling XRP despite ETF success — Data signals deeper weakness

ambcryptoPublished on 2025-12-19Last updated on 2025-12-19

Abstract

Despite the success of XRP ETFs, which have surpassed $1.14 billion in assets under management with zero days of net outflows since launch, the price of XRP continues to decline. On-chain data from CryptoQuant reveals that whales are consistently sending large volumes of XRP to exchanges like Binance, creating persistent sell-side pressure. This steady supply from large holders has overwhelmed ETF-driven demand, leading to a series of lower highs and lower lows. Key support levels to watch are $1.82–$1.87 and $1.50–$1.66. For a sustained bullish reversal, the market needs a reduction in whale selling, a shift toward accumulation, and stronger spot buyer demand.

XRP ETFs have crossed $1 billion in assets under management and have yet to record a single day of net outflows since launch.

Under normal market conditions, sustained ETF inflows of this magnitude would help stabilize price or even fuel a recovery. Instead, XRP continues to post lower highs and lower lows — and new on-chain data shows why.

Analysis from CryptoQuant indicates that whales are sending large volumes of XRP to Binance, creating persistent sell-side pressure that has outweighed the ETF bid throughout December.

XRP whales dominate exchange inflows — not retail

The XRP Ledger inflow-value band chart shows that almost all recent inflows to Binance originate from the 100K–1M XRP and 1M+ XRP cohorts.

These are not retail wallets; they are whales and high-net-worth entities preparing liquidity for selling.

Each time these value bands spike, price reacts the same way:

  • a lower high forms
  • followed by a lower low
  • confirming that excess supply continues to overwhelm the market

Whales are not dumping aggressively in a single event, but the steady drip of supply has been enough to keep XRP sliding. Without a new influx of spot buyers, the market has struggled to absorb this activity.

ETF inflows show strength — but they are not offsetting whale supply

Data from SoSoValue shows that XRP spot ETFs have now accumulated over $1.14 billion in assets and registered zero days of outflows since launch.

Cumulative inflows remain firmly positive, and daily inflow behavior has been stable, even during market drawdowns.

This presents a contradiction: ETF demand is rising, yet price is falling.

The most plausible explanation aligns with CryptoQuant’s analysis. Whales accumulated XRP ahead of the ETF approval, expecting a speculative rally, then sold the narrative back to retail once the approval event arrived.

This created a pocket of persistent supply that ETF inflows alone could not counter.

Every attempt by XRP to reclaim the $1.95 zone has been rejected by renewed whale-led inflows to exchanges.

Key support levels to watch

Based on inflow intensity and the XRP price structure:

  • $1.82–$1.87 → first major support
  • $1.50–$1.66 → deeper support range if inflows continue rising

Price briefly stabilized near $1.82 in early December, but subsequent whale inflows forced another leg down.

Until on-chain data shows a decline in large inflows, the odds of a sustained rally remain limited.

XRP ETF momentum is real — but the market needs spot buyers

XRP ETFs offer a clear indication of institutional interest, and the absence of outflows suggests that investors are not withdrawing capital from the product.

However, ETF demand alone cannot reverse a market where large holders continually increase their active supply.

The market will need:

  • A reduction in whale exchange inflows
  • A shift in value bands toward accumulation
  • A stronger bid from new spot buyers

Until then, XRP remains vulnerable to further downside despite the strong ETF momentum.


Final Thoughts

  • ETF inflows remain strong, but whale-driven supply continues to push XRP lower.
  • A bullish reversal requires declining large inflows, not just ETF demand.

Related Questions

QDespite the success of XRP ETFs, why is the price of XRP continuing to decline?

AThe price of XRP is declining because large holders, or 'whales,' are consistently sending large volumes of XRP to exchanges like Binance to sell. This persistent sell-side pressure from whales has outweighed the buying demand from the ETFs, creating excess supply in the market.

QAccording to the CryptoQuant analysis, where are the majority of recent XRP inflows to Binance coming from?

AAccording to CryptoQuant, almost all recent XRP inflows to Binance originate from the 100K–1M XRP and 1M+ XRP cohorts, which are whale and high-net-worth entity wallets, not retail investors.

QWhat is the contradiction presented between XRP ETF data and its price action?

AThe contradiction is that XRP spot ETFs have seen strong, consistent inflows with zero days of outflows, accumulating over $1.14 billion in assets, yet the price of XRP continues to fall instead of rising with this institutional demand.

QWhat are the key support levels for XRP mentioned in the article?

AThe key support levels mentioned are $1.82–$1.87 as the first major support, and $1.50–$1.66 as a deeper support range if whale-led exchange inflows continue to rise.

QWhat does the market need for a sustained bullish reversal in XRP's price?

AFor a sustained bullish reversal, the market needs a reduction in whale exchange inflows, a shift in on-chain value bands toward accumulation (buying and holding), and a stronger bid from new spot buyers, not just demand from ETFs.

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