XRP mid-tier holders—wallets with at least 10,000 XRP—surged to a record 332,230 this week. The milestone confirms growing commitment from individual investors and smaller funds despite XRP's rocky start to 2026. It's the clearest sign yet of structural shifts in the asset's ownership base.
Steady Climb With One Blip
The count's been climbing since June 2024. It hit a rough patch early February when 4,500 wallets dropped out during a market crash and liquidation cascade. Since then? It's been all uphill. The dip was temporary. The rebound pushed it past previous peaks.
Buying the Dips, Not the Hype
Santiment's data shows these holders aren't chasing quick price moves. They're accumulating when markets get rough. That's a sharp contrast to retail traders who pile in when prices spike. This pattern's been consistent for over a year. Prices could tank tomorrow and they'd likely keep adding.
Supply Chain Overhaul
Mid-tier holders sit between regular traders and institutional whales. Their steady accumulation reshapes XRP's supply without moving prices immediately. That means the market's structure is changing under the surface. It's not creating explosive rallies right now. But the foundation's shifting.
Waiting for the Catalyst
How long until this supply shift actually lifts prices remains the open question. The current trend shows no signs of slowing. But without a major market catalyst, it could take months before the accumulation translates to visible price momentum. Analysts will keep checking Santiment's weekly data for the first signals.
