Over the past nine days, large XRP transactions (those above $1 million) plunged from 157 to 67 — a 57.3% decline, according to market analyst Ali Martinez. At first glance that looks like diminishing demand, but the move appears more like repositioning than a wholesale exit by big holders.
When top-end participants step back, liquidity at higher price levels thins and volatility tends to cool. Order books rebuild and the market compresses into tighter ranges — a classical “compression phase” that often precedes a decisive directional move. Martinez interprets the current lull as a pause in aggressive whale positioning that could be setting the stage for the next expansion rather than signaling the end of interest in XRP.
On the technical front, analyst DavidTheBuilder highlights a key choice area around $1.28–$1.30, which acted as support during February’s pullback. XRP is trading near $1.36, sitting just above that zone. Repeated rejections in the $1.40–$1.45 range have capped upside momentum and shifted short-term control toward sellers, but a clear breakdown has not yet occurred.
DavidTheBuilder outlines two main scenarios: if the $1.28–$1.30 support holds, XRP could recover to $1.40, with a successful move potentially opening targets around $1.60–$1.68. Conversely, a break below $1.28 would likely expose the $1.15–$1.20 liquidity band, where buyers may reappear.
Bottom line: the market currently looks gridlocked — whales are quieter, price is compressed between defined support and resistance, and volatility has cooled. That suggests caution: rather than betting on an immediate trend, traders should watch for a buildup and a decisive breakout or breakdown before committing significant positions.