XRP Ledger Reaches Record High in 10,000+ Wallets
13 May 2026 · 12:30 UTC · NewsBTC RSS Feed · Original source
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Summary
Santiment Intelligence reports that the XRP Ledger has reached an all-time high of 332,230 wallets holding at least 10,000 XRP. This extends a growth trend that has been building since June 2024. The metric serves as an indicator of accumulation among mid-to-large XRP holders. The data shows steady expansion despite XRP trading below prior highs throughout 2026. Santiment interprets the trend as evidence that larger holders continue accumulating even during periods of volatility and uncertainty, suggesting conviction in the asset's long-term value. A sharp drop of 4,500+ wallets occurred in early February during the broader crypto crash and liquidations, but the cohort has since recovered and exceeded the previous record. Analysts note that while wallet count metrics can be influenced by wallet fragmentation and custody practices, the persistent growth trend suggests genuine accumulation activity. At the time of publication, XRP traded at $1.4554.
Why it matters
On-chain wallet metrics serve as proxies for investor behavior and conviction. Growing numbers of wallets above meaningful balance thresholds (10,000 XRP ≈ $14,500 USD) suggest participants are willing to increase exposure or maintain positions during weakness—classic accumulation behavior. Historical patterns show that periods of rising whale/large-holder wallets often precede appreciation phases, though causality is not certain. Santiment's interpretation—that this indicates conviction rather than distribution—is reasonable but interpretative. Key assumptions include: (1) these wallet holders represent genuine investors rather than exchange custody accounts; (2) accumulation reflects conviction rather than wallet fragmentation or operational address management; (3) past correlation between accumulation and price holds predictive value. Uncertainties include: exchange custody practices may inflate wallet counts; wallet fragmentation can create false signals; micro-level accumulation doesn't guarantee macro-level price movement; broader market conditions may override this signal. The February 2026 liquidation event that temporarily reduced the 10K+ cohort by 4,500 wallets demonstrates the metric's sensitivity to extreme volatility, suggesting its predictive power may be limited during crisis periods.
Expected impact
The record in wallets holding 10,000+ XRP signals persistent accumulation by mid-to-large holders despite XRP trading below 2024 highs. This typically indicates conviction from investors less focused on short-term momentum and more interested in long-term positioning. In the near-term (minutes to hours), the news is unlikely to trigger significant immediate price movement, as it reflects a gradual trend rather than a discrete event. However, across daily and weekly timeframes, the accumulation signal may encourage traders to view XRP more favorably, potentially supporting price stability or modest upside. Over monthly timeframes, sustained accumulation by larger holders historically precedes price appreciation as the market recognizes growing conviction. The trend persisted through the February 2026 crypto crash and recovered to new highs, suggesting the accumulation thesis survived a major volatility test. For Bitcoin and broader altcoins, the impact is more indirect—it reflects growing confidence in at least one major asset, which could contribute to risk-on sentiment across markets. However, the XRP-specific nature of the news limits its direct influence on Bitcoin's price action.