XRP stalls below $1.60 despite a record 5.66M retail holders – Why?

Total investor curiosity in Ripple [XRP] is slowly making a comeback, led by retail. In response to Santiment data, the variety of retail holders, significantly these holding under 100 XRP, has risen to a document 5.66 million addresses. 

Equally, cohorts holding 100-100K XRP have hit a brand new all-time excessive of two.01 million wallets. 

Curiously, even whale cohorts holding over 100K XRP cash had seen a slight rebound in renewed accumulation in March. Price noting that these whale wallets have been web sellers since late 2025. 

Nevertheless, as of writing, they’d briefly paused promoting stress and added little publicity to XRP. 

XRP whale demand turns optimistic

In truth, the above knowledge was supported by the 30-day Whale Move, which tracks general demand amongst the most important holders. These main bag holders trimmed their publicity between July and November 2025. 

The dumping continued in December and early January, however eased afterwards. In March, the metric turned optimistic for the primary time since July 2025, suggesting that whales have been web shopping for XRP. 

Collectively, the renewed demand boosted XRP value restoration by 21% within the first half of March, rallying the altcoin from $1.3 to 1.6. 

Surprisingly, the current value pullback after the hawkish Fed price pause has not tapered the March holding spree, not less than as of writing. If the bullish on-chain metric persists, then XRP may entrance one other huge upswing if broader market situations flip optimistic once more. 

Can XRP bulls clear the $1.6 promote wall

On the value charts, the current value rejection occurred at $1.6, a key promote wall (crimson zone) that blocked one other breakout try in February. Over the identical interval, bulls had used the $1.34 assist zone as a re-entry degree into the market. 

If the sideways construction extends, shopping for on the demand zone and promoting on the provide zone would make sense. 

Conversely, a sustained promoting stress under $1.30 would invalidate the sideways outlook. Total, regardless of the current value pullback, XRP was seeing robust accumulation from retail and whales alike. 

Closing Abstract

• Retail and whale exercise elevated in March amid a renewed accumulation spree for XRP.
• However the altcoin’s bullish breakout try was minimize quick at $1.6, the resistance degree, and should prolong its $1.3-$1.6 value vary.