Whales have added $1.5B in XRP, signalling strong institutional demand.
Seven XRP ETFs await the SEC’s ruling starting October 18, lifting approval hopes.
XRP has held the $3 support as rate cuts and treasuries fuel a bullish outlook.
XRP has entered October with renewed momentum, breaking above the $3 mark and capturing the attention of traders, institutions, and regulators alike.
The cryptocurrency, which has often played second fiddle to Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) in major rallies, is now being positioned by analysts and market watchers as a possible leader of the next bullish wave.
A mix of whale accumulation, mounting XRP ETF speculation, and a favourable macroeconomic backdrop has set the stage for what could be one of XRP’s most decisive periods in years.
Whales’ appetite for XRP on the rise
Large holders have made their presence felt in recent days, with wallets holding between 100 million and one billion XRP adding over half a billion tokens worth $1.54 billion.
That surge brought whale balances close to record highs and underscored conviction at current levels.
Even after minor profit-taking, whale positions remain elevated, reflecting confidence in XRP’s trajectory.
At the same time, short-term investors have also been building positions. The one-month to three-month holding group has grown steadily, while the share of supply moving within a single day spiked dramatically.
Together, this simultaneous whale and retail accumulation has created a rare moment of alignment, with both ends of the market betting on a breakout above $3.10 in the short term.
XRP ETFs approval odds surge ahead of October ruling
Much of the growing enthusiasm stems from the looming decisions on several spot XRP exchange-traded fund applications.
The US SEC is scheduled to issue its first ruling on October 18, with six more cases lined up through the following week.
Notably, regulatory changes, including the adoption of new Generic Listing Standards, have boosted approval odds and drawn comparisons to the process that paved the way for Bitcoin ETFs.
The Bitcoin ETFs have already attracted more than $150 billion in inflows, and if XRP ETFs receive similar approval, even on a smaller scale, the resulting accessibility for traditional investors could mark a turning point.
Prediction markets, including Polymarkets, are already pricing approval odds at above 99%, fueling speculative flows in anticipation of a green light.
Institutions are accumulating XRP
Alongside ETF bets, corporate treasuries are also beginning to add XRP.
VivoPower, a Nasdaq-listed company, announced plans to allocate $19 million into XRP, while Japan’s Gumi has added more than $13 million worth to its holdings.
These moves reinforce the idea that firms see XRP as more than just a speculative token, but also as a long-term asset with utility in cross-border payments.
Ripple itself has been pushing forward on the institutional front.
In Japan, SBI Holdings has expanded institutional XRP lending services after its partnership with Ripple, a move that deepens Asian liquidity.
Meanwhile, Ripple announced a $1.3 million donation in stablecoins to fund a new Center for Digital Assets at UC Berkeley, a hub that will focus on blockchain research and tokenisation of real-world assets.
These initiatives add weight to the narrative that XRP is positioning itself for broader financial adoption.
XRP price outlook
The XRP price has gained nearly 11% in the past week and more than 490% over the past year, reflecting its ability to capitalise on favourable cycles.
However, it has been locked in a descending triangular channel since early August, but recent moves suggest that pressure is building for a decisive break.
The token has already reclaimed both its 20-day and 50-day moving averages, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) sitting in a neutral zone and momentum indicators like the MACD turning bullish.
The coming weeks could prove more decisive than the past year combined, especially with whale inflows, corporate treasuries stepping in, ETF deadlines approaching, and the macroeconomic backdrop turning supportive.
Eyes are currently at the short-term resistance at $3.10, which remains the key barrier for any further bullish momentum.
A sustained close above $3.10 could open the door to targets near $3.40 and potentially $3.66.
Some analysts even see the possibility of a run to $4.20 if strong volume and institutional flows accompany the move.
However, for the altcoin to sustain the current bullish breakout, it must remain above the support at $2.99, which has remained firm over recent sessions.
