XRP Plunges 60%, Can It Recover to $3 Amid Whale Accumulation?

▲ Ripple (XRP) ©

XRP (Ripple), which has plummeted 60% from its all-time high and is suffering from endless stagnation, is at a new turning point for a rebound, buoyed by massive accumulation by whales and an influx of funds into spot exchange-traded funds. While some suggest a breakthrough to $10 this summer, this is deemed somewhat unrealistic, but institutional investor data strongly indicates a realistic recovery potential to the $2 to $3 range.

According to crypto media outlet Watcher.Guru on April 25 (local time), XRP, currently trading between $1.42 and $1.45, has significantly retreated from its all-time high of $3.65 recorded in July 2025. Weak macroeconomic conditions, coupled with structural limitations within the Ripple ecosystem, have fueled the decline. The ability of banks to use fiat currency on Ripple's payment network limits direct demand for XRP, and there are concerns that the introduction of its own stablecoin could further fragment demand. Furthermore, the centralized structure, where Ripple holds 38 billion out of a total supply of 100 billion XRP, is also cited as a factor suppressing price increases.

Market experts have mixed outlooks on XRP's future. Liz, a well-known crypto trader, expressed extreme optimism, stating that numerous analysts agree XRP will reach $10 by the coming summer. However, as this would require a 590% surge from the current price, institutional investors are taking a much more conservative approach. Geoffrey Kendrick, an analyst at Standard Chartered, significantly lowered his 2026 price target from the previous $8 to $2.80 after the market crash in February. Nevertheless, he maintained long-term targets of $7 for 2027 and $12.60 for 2028, analyzing a clear upside potential of 93% compared to the current price.

Crypto analysis platform CoinCodex's prediction model also forecasted XRP to trade within a range of $1.37 to $2.20 this year, averaging $1.67. Notably, the projection of a potential rise of up to 55% from current levels in September and October aligns with Kendrick's $2.80 target. Positive market signals are most clearly captured in on-chain data. Last week, large wallet addresses accumulated 360 million XRP, the largest amount in 10 months, and the XRP spot ETF saw an inflow of $55.39 million for seven consecutive days, marking the highest this year.

Experts evaluate the simultaneous influx of massive buying pressure from giant whales and XRP spot ETF investors as an indicator of strong market conviction, rather than mere short-term noise. Although the dream scenario of reaching $10 before summer is unlikely to materialize, the gradual recovery to the $2 to $3 range, which institutions are eyeing, is well-supported by current robust on-chain data, making it noteworthy whether investors' patience will pay off.

*Disclaimer: This article is for investment reference only, and we are not responsible for any investment losses based on it. The content should be interpreted for informational purposes only.*