XRP Price Lags, but 'Millionaire' Wallets Stage Comeback

XRP’s start to 2026 has been defined by rather underwhelming price action so far. 

However, "smart money" appears to be returning to the ledger.

According to new data from crypto analytics firm Santiment, the number of "millionaire" XRP wallets is now rising for the first time since September 2025. 

This is despite the asset trading down a modest 4% year-to-date. 

The popular network has seen a net increase of 42 new whale wallets in recent weeks.

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The return of large-scale holders shows that institutional or high-net-worth investors are seizing the opportunity to buy the current dip. 

Santiment described the trend as “an encouraging sign for the long-term.”

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This uptick in whale balances aligns with recent research from ETF issuer 21Shares, which pointed to a developing "supply shock" for the token. 

The re-entry of large buyers could exacerbate scarcity if demand accelerates.

For now, the market remains in a "wait and see" mode, but the Santiment data indicates that those with the most capital are betting on a turnaround. 

As reported by U.Today, 21Shares recently predicted that the price of the token could surge to $2.69, which is the firm's bull case. Still, the token would remain far below its all-time high that was logged last year following a blistering rally that was spurred by regulatory clarity and growing ETF momentum. According to the firm, XRP's performance will be contingent on supply exhaustion as well as RWA scaling.