As XRP trades through a choppy start to 2026, one on-chain signal has started to flip back in a direction long-term holders watch closely: the number of wallets holding at least 1 million XRP is rising again, ending a multi-month downtrend and hinting at renewed accumulation among large holders.
XRP millionaire wallets rise again after months of declines
On-chain analytics indicates that the "millionaire" cohort—wallets holding at least 1 million XRP—has increased for the first time since September 2025.
XRP adds 42 millionaire wallets, lifting the total to 2,016
Recent on-chain tracking shows a net +42 wallets holding at least 1 million XRP, bringing the total number of millionaire wallets to 2,016 and snapping a four-month stretch of declines.
That matters because large-holder behavior is often tracked as a proxy for conviction. When the count of big wallets rises, it can indicate accumulation (or at least less distribution) at the margin—especially when paired with stable or weakening spot price action.
XRP price weakens while large-holder count improves
XRP is down about 4% since the start of 2026, even as the millionaire-wallet count begins climbing again. At the same time, the broader market context remains mixed, with XRP hovering around the mid-$1 range in early February, alongside active 24-hour trading volume.
This "price soft, whales steady-to-bullish" mix is exactly why this metric is watched: it suggests some large holders are willing to increase exposure (or rebuild positions) without needing immediate price confirmation.
XRP ETF flows add an institutional backdrop to on-chain signals
Beyond wallet counts, the institutional wrapper around XRP has become part of the narrative investors track: ETF flows can influence spot demand dynamics, custody patterns, and sentiment.
Spot XRP ETF inflows near $91.72 million in the month
Market reporting around the same period indicates U.S.-listed spot XRP ETFs attracted net inflows of $91.72 million during the month, even as broader crypto ETF flow trends have not been uniformly positive.
While ETF flows do not map 1:1 to "whale wallets" (custodians can aggregate holdings, and ETFs can hold XRP in fewer addresses), the combination of (1) improving large-holder address counts and (2) positive ETF flow headlines can reinforce a "supportive demand under the surface" interpretation for XRP.
XRP price action context from late January into early February
Recent price snapshots show XRP ending January in the mid-$1 range after trading higher earlier in the month—highlighting that the whale-wallet rebound is happening during a cooling phase, not a breakout.
What rising XRP millionaire wallets can—and can’t—tell us
A rising count of XRP millionaire wallets is a useful signal, but it’s not a standalone forecast. Here’s how to interpret it without overreaching.
XRP accumulation signal: why wallet counts matter
When more wallets hold at least 1 million XRP, it can suggest:
- Net accumulation among large entities (funds, high-net-worth holders, corporates, long-term investors).
- Redistribution from mid-tier wallets into larger wallets.
- A shift in behavior from late-2025 distribution toward early-2026 rebuilding.
Importantly, this wallet metric is directionally informative because it’s less sensitive to short-term noise than, say, hourly exchange inflows/outflows. A cohort count tends to move slowly, so inflections can matter.
XRP caveats: wallets aren’t people, and custody can distort signals
At the same time, wallet-based metrics come with structural caveats:
- One entity can control multiple wallets, and multiple entities can be represented under custodial structures.
- Large services can rotate addresses for operational reasons, changing counts without a real change in economic ownership.
- Some "returns to the ledger" may reflect reclassification or movement patterns rather than fresh net buying.
That’s why this signal is best treated as context—most useful when it aligns with other data (spot volume behavior, broader market risk appetite, or sustained ETF inflows).
How to follow XRP signals and access XRP markets on Gate
For readers who want both market access and a way to stay disciplined around these signals, the practical step is tracking the metric while keeping execution simple.
XRP monitoring: combine on-chain cohort trends with market structure
A clean workflow for XRP tracking is:
- Watch the 1M+ XRP address cohort trend (direction and slope).
- Cross-check with spot price behavior and liquidity conditions (tight spreads, steady volume, reduced slippage).
- Treat inflections as risk signals (accumulation vs distribution), not guarantees.
XRP trading access on Gate: spot and perpetual markets
For execution, Gate provides active XRP markets, including XRP/USDT spot and XRP/USDT perpetual listings, allowing traders to participate via spot or derivatives depending on their risk profile and strategy constraints.
Because whale-wallet signals can take time to play out, many traders pair this kind of data with strict risk controls (position sizing, defined invalidation levels, and avoiding over-leverage in sideways markets).
XRP takeaway: a small but notable shift in large-holder behavior
The headline point is straightforward: the number of wallets holding at least 1 million XRP has started rising again—+42 net additions, taking the total to 2,016—marking the first increase since September 2025.
With XRP trading around the mid-$1 range in early February and spot ETF flow headlines still in focus, the setup reflects a familiar crypto pattern: quiet accumulation signals can appear before price confirms—yet they still require patience, corroboration, and disciplined execution.
