XRP jumps above $1.50 as analyst points to whale manipulation, not institutional buying

Contrasting views on the causes of the rally

Although many credited the latest institutional purchase for fueling bullish sentiment, Levi Rietveld, founder of Crypto Crusaders and a well-known market commentator, argued that the impact of MicroStrategy’s buy is overstated. Rietveld pointed out that MicroStrategy, a business intelligence and software firm, has made much larger Bitcoin purchases without triggering significant market moves in the past.

He stated that a single $80 million acquisition is unlikely to drive the kind of sharp price appreciation recently seen in XRP, especially given the broader, coordinated surge across multiple assets.

Rietveld explained that “MicroStrategy bought hundreds of millions of dollars of Bitcoin before and it didn’t even move the markets. One $80 million buy doesn’t have the force needed to send XRP surging toward $1.50 alongside a broad market rally.”

Whale activity behind XRP’s move

Rietveld attributed the price action to concentrated activity from large holders. He described the latest rally in XRP as “100% whale manipulation,” adding that the underlying drivers are not widely understood by most retail participants.

He emphasized that significant wallet activity and heavy buying from large investors, often known as “whales,” have been observed. A recent example included a prominent investor increasing a substantial long position in XRP, indicating deliberate positioning by market-moving players.

Mini dictionary: Whale, a term used in cryptocurrency markets to describe individuals or entities that hold large amounts of a digital asset. Their trades can significantly influence market prices and liquidity.

According to Rietveld, the actions of these large market participants provide a far more plausible explanation for the heightened volatility and swift moves in XRP price than institutional accumulation alone.

Institutional demand versus market manipulation

Competing perspectives on the rally remain prominent. Some analysts and industry observers attribute the growth to institutional inflows and renewed interest from companies acquiring digital assets. XRP has recently seen increased attention from corporate treasuries and other large buyers, supporting the thesis of broad market adoption.

However, Rietveld remains skeptical that institutional demand is the driving force behind the latest surge, suggesting instead that whale-driven positioning is playing a dominant role.

Rietveld concluded with a warning, noting, “99% of you aren’t ready for what comes next,” leaving the door open for further volatility depending on the actions of the largest XRP holders.

Potential consequences for XRP holders

Rietveld’s comments highlight growing concerns about the outsized impact that a handful of large wallet holders can have on market direction, especially during periods of thin liquidity or heightened speculation.

While some in the industry see the recent rally as a sign of expanding institutional adoption, others caution that sharp, whale-driven price moves could result in sudden reversals, especially if profits are taken or positions are unwound abruptly. The next phase for XRP may depend largely on how these key participants choose to manage their holdings in the near term.