Santiment’s latest study reveals a previously unexplored dynamic influencing XRP and other major cryptocurrencies. For the first time, the analytics firm visually maps the behavior of whales (large holders) and micro wallets, showing how their opposite actions can trigger significant price swings.

Understanding this relationship gives traders a unique lens into market movements and potential alpha opportunities.

XRP’s Hidden Whale Moves Drive Unexpected Ripple Price Surges

Santiment’s chart template tracks six major cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Cardano, WETH, and Lido Staked ETH.

The analysis shows that when whales accumulate while micro wallets sell, prices often surge. Conversely, when whales reduce their holdings while smaller wallets buy, markets tend to dip.

Using XRP as the first example, despite underperforming in the second half of 2025, retail micro wallets continued to buy, driven by persistent FOMO.

Meanwhile, large stakeholders were selectively accumulating, creating short bursts of upward momentum. Nonetheless, the most profitable signals came when whales quietly added to their positions while micro wallets were selling XRP.

XRP Whales vs Micro Wallets. Source: Santiment

This divergence highlights the importance of tracking both large and small holders. XRP’s retail wallets tend to follow the crowd, while whales hold their positions strategically, setting the stage for unexpected price moves.

Since XRP’s 7-year high above $3.62 in July, retail buying persisted even as whale accumulation drove temporary price spikes. This demonstrated the outsized influence of large holders on market swings.

Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Other Altcoins Reveal Similar Dynamics

Bitcoin provides a clearer example, showing major bull runs (green bars) occurred when whales were quietly adding to their positions while micro wallets were offloading. This created upward momentum.

In contrast, when whales were offloading and retail traders continued buying, prices generally declined.

Bitcoin Whales vs Micro Wallets. Source: Santiment

Ethereum followed a similar pattern. Between June and August 2025, strategic ETH accumulation by key stakeholders drove a nearly 87% price increase, even as smaller retail wallets were selling.

Ethereum Whales vs Micro Wallets. Source: Santiment

Santiment’s study shows these opposing movements often foreshadow volatility more reliably than conventional indicators.

Santiment’s insights extend to other major coins. Cardano’s whales have steadily accumulated during market dips, stabilizing ADA prices, while micro wallets chase smaller rallies.

Lido Staked ETH shows concentrated whale buying preceding price surges, even when retail wallets remain largely inactive. These patterns confirm that monitoring wallet tier behavior can provide actionable signals across multiple cryptocurrencies, not just BTC, ETH, and XRP.

Beyond the interplay between whales and micro wallets, Santiment suggests that algorithmically identifying optimal buying and selling windows could mark the next breakthrough in determining who drives prices. Such knowledge could enable traders to act faster on emerging trends.

Therefore, understanding these hidden forces could reveal the timing of the next major price moves and who really drives them.

Traders incorporating whale versus micro wallet activity into their strategies may gain a distinct edge in anticipating broader crypto market swings.