- Whales added $1.5 billion worth of XRP, signaling strong institutional demand.
- Seven spot XRP ETF applications are awaiting SEC rulings starting October 18, boosting approval hopes.
- XRP has held the $3 support level, with rate cuts and treasury trends underpinning a bullish outlook.
XRP entered October with fresh momentum, breaking above the $3 mark and drawing attention from traders, institutions, and regulators.
Historically playing a secondary role to Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) during major rallies, XRP is now being positioned by analysts and market observers as a potential leader in the next bullish wave.
Whale accumulation, rising XRP ETF speculation, and a favorable macroeconomic backdrop have combined to create one of the most pivotal periods for XRP in years.
Whale demand for XRP is rising
In recent days, large holders have made their presence known. Wallets holding 100 million to 1 billion XRP have added over 500 million tokens, worth roughly $154 million.
This surge has pushed whale balances close to all-time highs and underscores confidence at current price levels.
Even after modest profit-taking, whale positions remain elevated, reflecting sustained conviction about XRP’s trajectory.
Short-term holders are also building positions. The one- to three-month holding cohort has steadily grown, and the share of supply moving within a single day has spiked.
Concurrent accumulation by both whales and retail creates a rare moment of alignment, with both sides of the market betting on a short-term breakthrough above $3.10.
Chances of XRP ETF approval soar ahead of October rulings
Much of the growing enthusiasm stems from the imminent decisions on multiple spot XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) applications.
The U.S. SEC is scheduled to issue a first decision on October 18, with six additional cases following in the coming week.
Notably, regulatory shifts—including adoption of updated listing standards—have raised the probability of approval and drawn comparisons to the process that enabled Bitcoin ETFs.
Bitcoin ETFs attracted over $15 billion in inflows; if XRP ETFs receive comparable approvals—even at a smaller scale—improved accessibility for traditional investors could represent a turning point for the token.
Prediction markets such as Polymarket have already priced approval odds at over 99%, fueling speculative activity around an expected green light.
Institutions are accumulating XRP
Beyond ETF bets, corporate treasuries are also increasing XRP holdings.
Nasdaq-listed VivoPower announced plans to allocate $19 million to XRP, and Japanese firm Tsubame increased its position by more than $13 million.
These moves reinforce the view that companies see XRP as more than a speculative token—positioning it as a durable asset with utility in cross-border payments.
Ripple itself has continued to push on the institutional front.
In Japan, SBI Holdings expanded institutional XRP lending services after partnering with Ripple, deepening liquidity across Asia.
At the same time, Ripple pledged $1.3 million in stablecoins to fund a new digital assets center at the University of California, Berkeley, focused on blockchain research and tokenization of real-world assets.
Such initiatives add weight to the argument that XRP is preparing for broader financial adoption.
XRP price outlook
XRP has gained nearly 11% over the past week and more than 490% over the past year, demonstrating its ability to capitalize on a favorable cycle.
Although the token has traded inside a descending triangle since early August, recent price action shows increasing pressure for a decisive breakout.
The token has reclaimed its 20-day and 50-day moving averages. The relative strength index (RSI) sits in neutral territory, while MACD and other momentum indicators have turned bullish.
The coming weeks may prove more decisive than the entire past year—especially with whale inflows, corporate treasury engagement, looming ETF deadlines, and a macroeconomic backdrop that is becoming more supportive.
Short-term resistance at $3.10 remains the key hurdle. Sustained closes above $3.10 could open the door to targets near $3.40 and $3.66.
Some analysts believe that, with strong volume and continued institutional inflows, price could climb toward $4.20.
Conversely, for this bullish breakout to hold, XRP must stay above the $2.99 support level, which has held firm in recent trading sessions.