- Whales have added $1.5 billion in XRP, signaling strong institutional demand.
- Seven spot XRP ETF applications await SEC rulings starting October 18, raising hopes for approval.
- XRP has held support at $3 as falling interest rates and Treasury yields fuel a bullish outlook.
XRP entered October with renewed momentum, breaking above the $3 mark and drawing attention from traders, institutions, and regulators alike.
Often playing a secondary role to Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) in major rallies, the cryptocurrency is now being viewed by analysts and market observers as a potential leader in the next bullish wave.
A combination of whale accumulation, rising ETF speculation, and a favorable macroeconomic backdrop has set the stage for what could be one of XRP’s most consequential periods in years.
Whales increasing their appetite for XRP
Large holders have made their presence felt in recent days, with wallets holding between 100 million and one billion XRP adding more than half a billion tokens—roughly $1.54 billion.
That surge has pushed whale balances close to record highs and underscores conviction at current price levels.
Even after modest profit-taking, whale positions remain elevated, reflecting continued confidence in XRP’s trajectory.
At the same time, short-term investors have been building positions as well. The one- to three-month holding cohort has grown steadily, while the share of supply moving within a single day has spiked sharply.
Combined, simultaneous accumulation by whales and retail has created a rare alignment, with both ends of the market betting on a short-term breakout above $3.10.
XRP ETF approval odds surge ahead of October rulings
Much of the growing enthusiasm centers on looming decisions for several spot XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) applications.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is scheduled to issue its first decision on October 18, with six more decisions slated for the following week.
Regulatory shifts, including the adoption of a new Generic Listing Standard, have increased the chance of approval and drawn comparisons to the process that opened the door for Bitcoin ETFs.
Bitcoin ETFs attracted more than $150 billion in inflows, and if XRP ETFs receive similar — even if smaller-scale — approvals, the resulting access for traditional investors could be a watershed moment.
Prediction markets have already priced in high odds; some outlets show approval probabilities above 99%, fueling speculative flows as traders position for potential green lights.
Institutions accumulating XRP
Beyond ETF bets, corporate treasuries are beginning to add XRP to their holdings.
Nasdaq-listed VivoPower announced plans to allocate $19 million to XRP, while Japan’s Gumi has added more than $13 million to its holdings.
These moves reinforce the idea that companies are viewing XRP not just as a speculative token but as a long-term asset with utility in cross-border payments.
Ripple has also advanced institutional initiatives.
In Japan, SBI Holdings expanded institutional XRP lending services following its partnership with Ripple, a move that deepens liquidity in Asia.
Meanwhile, Ripple announced a $1.3 million stablecoin donation to fund a new Digital Asset Center at UC Berkeley, a hub that will focus on blockchain research and real-world asset tokenization.
These initiatives add weight to the narrative that XRP is positioning itself for broader financial adoption.
Price outlook for XRP
XRP has risen about 11% over the past week and more than 490% year-over-year, demonstrating its ability to capitalize on a favorable cycle.
The token has been trading inside a descending triangle channel since early August, but recent action suggests mounting pressure for a decisive breakout.
The token has reclaimed its 20-day and 50-day moving averages, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) in neutral territory and momentum indicators like the MACD turning bullish.
The coming weeks may prove more decisive than the past year combined, especially given whale inflows, corporate treasury allocations, impending ETF deadlines, and a macro backdrop shifting toward lower interest rates.
Attention is focused on the short-term resistance at $3.10, which remains the main hurdle to further bullish momentum.
Sustained closes above $3.10 could open the door to targets near $3.40 and potentially $3.66.
Some analysts even see a potential run to $4.20 if strong volume and institutional flows accompany the move.
However, for the altcoin to hold its current bullish breakout, it must remain above support at $2.99, which has held firm during recent sessions.