Ripple’s XRP is seeing a clear shift in investor behavior, with large on-chain transactions surging to levels not seen in months. With market dynamics turning positive after months of volatility and capitulation, XRP investors are returning to the market with conviction. Transactions valued at $100,000 and above have been recorded with increasing frequency on the XRP Ledger (XRPL), signaling renewed interest and confidence in the cryptocurrency.
Ripple’s XRP Investors Return As Transactions Surge
New data shows XRP whales returning just as the broader market attempts to stabilize after recent pullbacks. According to crypto analytics platform Santiment, XRP Ledger activity spiked sharply at the start of the week. Apparently, transfers valued at $100,000 or more have climbed to their highest level since early October 2025.
The accompanying chart highlights that on January 5, 2026, the XRP network recorded 2,170 whale transactions. Activity spiked even more on January 6, when the count jumped to 2,802 large transactions in a single day. Notably, this surge signals a clear shift in high-value XRP activity, highlighting strong participation from major holders across the network.
Alongside the increase in large-scale investor activity, XRP price candles on the chart reflect a sharp rebound from recent lows. After a steady decline through late December 2025, XRP’s price action turned upward as transaction counts surged. The timing of this move stands out because XRP had spent weeks trending below $2 before this sudden increase in on-chain movement.
Notably, XRP investors may be returning after earlier declines as market sentiment slowly improves. Lower prices appear to have attracted long-term holders who see current levels as a favorable accumulation zone. Another factor possibly behind the renewed interest could be the perception that downside pressure has weakened. The stabilization seen before the transaction spike likely encouraged large players to reposition capital in the cryptocurrency.
Although the market appears to be moving away from previous downtrends, Santiment analysts have highlighted rising volatility on the chart. Rapid swings in transaction volume appear alongside sharper price movements, signaling that volatility is likely to remain elevated.
XRP Reserves On Binance Drop To Yearly Low
In other news, data from the blockchain and analytics platform CryptoQuant indicates a major shift in how XRP is held on crypto exchanges like Binance. CryptoOnChain, an analyst at CryptoQuant, published a report announcing that XRP’s reserves on Binance have fallen to 2.6 billion tokens, the lowest level seen since January 2024.
The analyst highlighted that declining supply often signals reduced selling pressure. He stated that XRP holdings have steadily dropped from nearly 3.25 billion tokens in late 2025, suggesting investors are moving assets into self-custody and potentially adopting a HODL mindset.
CryptoQuant also noted that this trend reflects a strong accumulation phase that removes liquidity from active trading. With fewer tokens available on the sell side, the platform stated that a demand spike could lead to sharper price moves, creating a favorable setup for XRP in the short- to medium-term.
Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com
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