The XRP price is stuck in a holding pattern as traders watch a key resistance zone that could determine whether the altcoin’s recent momentum continues or fades.
At the time of writing, XRP trades around $3.03, down 0.7% in the past 24 hours and 2.6% lower over the past week. While one-month returns are slightly negative, the token is still up nearly 30% in the past three months, showing its broader uptrend remains intact.
Whales Keep Accumulating
Behind the scenes, big investors are quietly increasing their exposure. On-chain data shows that wallets holding between 10 million and 100 million XRP have steadily grown their positions in recent days.
Between August 16 and August 24, these large holders increased their collective stash from 7.51 billion to 7.76 billion XRP. At today’s price, that’s roughly $758 million worth of new tokens added in just one week.
This kind of accumulation often signals confidence among whales, who tend to load up before potential breakouts. So far, their buying has helped soak up selling pressure — but it hasn’t been enough to break through XRP’s toughest ceiling.
Heavy Supply Blocks the Upside
The problem lies in a dense supply cluster between $3.26 and $3.29, where more than 1.05 billion XRP last changed hands. This range has acted as a brick wall since early August, capping every upside attempt.
Technical analysis backs up the importance of this zone. A Fibonacci retracement level (0.786) aligns almost perfectly with $3.29, marking it as the pivot point for XRP’s next decisive move.
If bulls manage to close a daily candle above that resistance, upside targets come into view at $3.43 and the previous all-time high of $3.65, with the possibility of stretching toward $3.84 if momentum snowballs.
History offers some encouragement: earlier this month, after bulls briefly regained control, XRP surged from $2.90 to $3.33 in just a few sessions. A similar reaction could follow once the $3.29 barrier cracks.
What’s Next for XRP
For now, whale demand continues to underpin the market, helping keep XRP afloat. But until buyers can clear the $3.29 resistance, the rally remains capped.
On the downside, if large holders lose patience and start unloading, XRP could slip back toward $2.78, a key support level. A breakdown below that would invalidate the current bullish outlook and raise the risk of a deeper correction.
For traders, the takeaway is clear: the $3.26–$3.29 zone is the battleground. A breakout could open the door to new highs, while rejection keeps XRP stuck in its sideways grind.
