XRP Price Soars to 4-Month High on Whale Action and ETF Momentum

Ripple’s native cryptocurrency, XRP, has broken out of a multi-week consolidation phase, surging over 26% to peak at $2.96 before retracing slightly to trade at $2.77. The powerful rally has been driven by a mix of aggressive whale accumulation, rising ETF speculation, and bullish sentiment across the broader crypto market.

Whale Activity Fuels XRP Rally

One of the primary catalysts behind XRP’s price surge is the aggressive positioning by crypto whales. On-chain data reveals that over 2,743 wallets now hold more than 1 million XRP each—an all-time high. This cohort collectively controls a staggering 47.3 billion XRP, signaling strong confidence among large-scale investors.

A standout move came via a $14.03 million leveraged long position placed on Hyperliquid, which sent a clear bullish signal to the market. This, coupled with the liquidation of nearly $31.4 million in short positions over the past 24 hours, sparked a classic short squeeze that accelerated XRP’s upward momentum.

ETF Buzz Brings Institutional Confidence

Market speculation is intensifying around the approval of both futures-based and spot XRP ETFs. With the SEC reportedly fast-tracking ETF reviews—reducing waiting periods to 75 days—analysts believe a spot XRP ETF could be approved by Q3 2025.

Futures-based ETFs from ProShares and Teucrium are expected to launch between July 14–25, further validating XRP as an institutional-grade asset. These developments have made XRP the talk of crypto circles and pushed trading volume to new highs—over 375 million XRP traded in a single session.

Ripple’s Regulatory Wins and Institutional Deals

Beyond price action, Ripple is making significant strides in establishing XRP as a cornerstone of institutional finance. The company recently partnered with BNY Mellon, naming the banking giant as custodian of RLUSD, Ripple’s dollar-backed stablecoin.

In tandem, Ripple has applied for a U.S. national banking license and a Federal Reserve master account, reinforcing its commitment to regulatory compliance and deepening integration with the traditional banking system.

These moves boost the utility and credibility of XRP, especially with RLUSD—now the 8th largest stablecoin—running on the XRP Ledger and using XRP for fees.

XRP Poised for Breakout Above $3?

Technically, XRP is trading within a strong ascending triangle structure, consistently printing higher lows while testing key resistance around $2.90–$3.00. Analysts suggest that a confirmed breakout above this zone could open the door for a swift move to $3.40, with even $4–$5 targets being floated in ultra-bullish scenarios.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 66 shows room for more upside, while XRP’s open interest has climbed to $7.2 billion, its highest since January, suggesting capital inflows remain strong.

Short-Term Risks and Long-Term Potential

Despite the bullish outlook, traders are advised to tread carefully. XRP’s RSI and Bollinger Bands indicate overbought conditions, suggesting a pullback to $2.60–$2.65 is possible before any renewed push higher.

Adding to the concerns are recent technical glitches, including a display error that briefly showed XRP at $691,667, and long-standing criticisms of centralized token distribution and alleged price manipulation. These issues could impact institutional confidence if not addressed.

However, many in the XRP community remain optimistic. Analysts like Farina suggest a $4 breakout could occur suddenly, driven by FOMO and ETF approval headlines.

Is XRP the Next Big Altcoin Play?

As the crypto market continues to heat up—led by Bitcoin’s surge above $118,000 and Ethereum’s 17% weekly gain—XRP is positioning itself as a top altcoin to watch. With whale accumulation growing, ETF momentum building, and Ripple’s institutional partnerships bearing fruit, XRP could be gearing up for a breakout beyond $3 and a potential run to new all-time highs in 2025.

While short-term volatility may shake out weak hands, XRP’s strong fundamentals and renewed market interest suggest that the long-anticipated altcoin season may have found its champion.