Will XRP explode? Retail investors return in force

XRP sees a surge in retail investor activity, closing the gap with whales. Is the price poised for a major breakout? Find out now!

Written by Charles Ledoux

Adapted by May 2, 2026 at 14:50 by Simon Dumoulin

xrp coin dans un ciel bleu avec homme de dos

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Large Holders Are Fleeing XRP: Should You Be Worried?

The cryptocurrencies market is witnessing a fascinating paradigm shift regarding XRP. Historically dominated by large wallets, the asset is now seeing retail traders make a strong comeback. According to the latest on chain data, the 30 day Whale vs. Retail Spread has dropped to 89.3%. This is the lowest level recorded since 2024.

XRP price chart with Binance whales vs. retail spread in orange — Source: Cryptoquant

This narrowing gap indicates that small investors are accumulating massively, thereby reducing the overwhelming influence of whales. Currently, the price of XRP is trading in a range between $1.37 and $1.39, showing relative stability despite overall market volatility.

Moreover, this trend follows the one observed in the stock market, with a record rate of retail holders for the S&P 500.

This dynamic debunks recent theories of price manipulation by large wallets. Indeed, the token is maintaining a solid support, backed by this influx of capital from retail investors. If this trend is confirmed, it could provide the necessary liquidity to trigger a bullish reversal in the coming months.

Can the Price of XRP Smash Through Its Next Resistances?

From a technical analysis perspective, XRP is at a decisive crossroads. Holding the support zone around $1.35 to $1.37 is crucial to avoid a deeper correction.

XRP price chart in 7H timeframe with Fibonacci retracement and RSI with order block

However, to validate a bullish scenario, the token will need to break the immediate resistance located at $1.40, which corresponds to the median of the FBB on the 9 and 7H charts. A confirmed breakout above this psychological threshold could pave the way toward $1.45, or even initiate a broader rally towards $1.50. momentum indicators, such as the RSI, show that the asset is not yet in overbought territory, leaving room for upward movement.

That being said, the 7H RSI has reached its median band and has still not touched the oversold zone. If a sell off looms next week, XRP could then retrace down to $1.30 to $1.27, where demand could once again outpace selling pressure.

Traders are closely monitoring trading volumes to confirm the direction of the next major move and anticipate a potential breakout.

XRP price chart in 1H timeframe with liquidation heatmap

The liquidations map confirms this potential pullback between $1.30 and $1.27 with two clusters at these levels. Conversely, a major cluster is located at $1.48. This is therefore the target if XRP breaks $1.40.

How High Can the Price of XRP Go During the Next Bull Run?

The current accumulation by retail investors could be the catalyst for a massive move. Historically, when retail interest increases significantly, it often precedes phases of high upside volatility. The narrowing gap with whales suggests a healthier token distribution, limiting the risks of a sudden dump.

Nevertheless, the influence of large wallets should not be underestimated. If whales decide to take massive profits at current resistance levels, it could slow down the ongoing bullish momentum. The evolution of the MACD in the coming days will be crucial to assess the strength of the buying trend and the sustainability of this rebound.

As the broader crypto market shows signs of recovery, XRP seems ideally positioned to capitalize on it. The question is no longer whether retail investors are back, but whether they will have the necessary strength to propel the asset beyond its resistances. Is XRP about to surprise the market and begin a meteoric rise toward its next ATH?

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Charles Ledoux

Charles Ledoux is a Bitcoin and blockchain technology specialist. A graduate of the Crypto Academy, he has been a Bitcoin miner for over a year. He has written numerous masterclasses to educate newcomers to the industry and has authored over 2,000 articles on cryptocurrency. Now, he aims to share his passion for crypto through his articles for InvestX.

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