Key Takeaways:
- XRP fell more than 70% from its July 2025 record high of $3.66
- Wallets holding at least 1 million XRP rose from 2,006 to 2,038
- Ripple expands RLUSD and tokenization infrastructure despite price slump
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XRP drops 70% from peak as whale wallets climb to 2,038
XRP fell more than 70 percent from its 2025 peak to near $1, while wallets holding at least 1 million tokens rose to 2,038.
"For XRP investors, it's time for a reality check," Dominic Basulto, a Motley Fool contributor, said. Basulto argues the token's run from roughly $0.50 in late 2024 toward $3.65 in 2025 depended heavily on optimism about a crypto-friendly U.S. presidency, and that enthusiasm has since faded.
Santiment data shows addresses holding at least 1 million XRP increased by 32 over three months, from roughly 2,006 to 2,038, even as XRP's market capitalization fell about 29 percent. The XRP Ledger processed more than 2.8 million transactions on Aug. 5, up 86 percent from the prior week and 81 percent above its 30-day average, while active accounts rose more than 5 percent over the past month.
The divergence between price and on-chain accumulation leaves traders uncertain whether large holders are building positions or restructuring custody. Prediction-market data from Polymarket shows a 47 percent chance XRP reaches $0.80, with smaller odds of declines toward $0.60 or $0.40.
XRP briefly dropped below $1 on Aug. 11, reaching about $0.99 before recovering, and was still trading around the $1 level as of Aug. 16. The token is down about 45 percent since the start of 2026 and more than 70 percent from its July 2025 record high of approximately $3.66.
Regulatory headwinds have added to the selling pressure. The Clarity Act, which would have provided clearer rules for digital assets, failed to advance through the Senate before lawmakers departed for their August recess. Bitcoin's difficult year has also weighed on the broader crypto sector, with the token trading near $78,000 as of mid-August.
Ripple Builds Infrastructure Despite Price Slump
Ripple has continued expanding its payments and digital-asset infrastructure even as XRP's price declined. Recent developments include Ripple Mint, which gives institutional clients tools for managing the RLUSD stablecoin, alongside investments in ZILO and Licuido aimed at expanding digital capital-markets and tokenization infrastructure. The company has also secured MiCA authorization in Europe, widening the regulatory reach for its services.
Basulto remains unconvinced that current levels offer an appealing entry point. He believes XRP has begun behaving more like a meme coin than a traditional altcoin supported by practical blockchain applications. "The problem with meme coins is that they rarely sustain momentum for long," he said.
"It's still far too early to be talking about 'buying the dip' on such a mercurial cryptocurrency," Basulto warned. His longer-term view leaves room for XRP to recover its footing during 2027 as Ripple's blockchain infrastructure for payments and liquidity matures, but he is unwilling to call the current price a bottom.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
