Crypto Whales Increase Holdings in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP Amid Market Uncertainty

A recent report from CryptoQuant reveals that large investors, often referred to as whales, are ramping up their holdings in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP. This trend may indicate that the prolonged bear market could be nearing its conclusion.

The report, titled “Buying the Bear: A Signal of the Bear Market’s Final Stage,” highlights a notable accumulation by the largest wallets in the crypto space. CryptoQuant notes that Bitcoin whales have increased their holdings to approximately 3.06 million BTC, despite a dip in prices below $60,000 in June. This accumulation trend is significant as it often marks the final phase of a bear market.

In addition to Bitcoin, XRP whales are also quietly positioning themselves, with significant spot order sizes remaining in the “big whale” territory while prices hover between $1.0 and $1.2. Meanwhile, large Ethereum holders have been accumulating, with the cohort holding between 10,000 and 100,000 ETH reaching record highs of nearly 19.6 million ETH.

Despite the positive signs, CryptoQuant cautions that further downside is still a possibility before a confirmed market floor is established. The current valuations of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP are approaching historically undervalued zones, which could signal a shift in market dynamics.

New Insights on Bitcoin Activity

• As of late March 2026, Bitcoin's daily active addresses fell to approximately 655,900, a significant decrease of over 30% from the peak of around 938,600 in August 2025.
• This level of active addresses has not been seen since the 2018-19 bear market.
• By early August 2026, active addresses showed a slight recovery, ranging between 660,000 and 675,000.
• Analysts caution that the drop in active addresses does not necessarily indicate an imminent price surge, but rather a retreat of speculative traders.
• The current market structure is notably different from 2018-19, with increased institutional participation and changes in how Bitcoin is held, particularly through ETFs.
• The disconnect between Bitcoin's price stability and declining on-chain activity suggests that the market may be supported by a smaller group of committed participants.

Latest Market Insights

• Total Market Cap: The total crypto market cap is currently near $2.20 trillion, reflecting a 0.72% increase since Sunday.
• Bitcoin Price: Bitcoin is holding steady around $65,200, supported by positive ETF inflows.
• Bitcoin Dominance: Bitcoin dominance is above 57%, indicating strong institutional demand.
• ETF Inflows: There have been zero outflow days for Bitcoin ETFs in August, with approximately $853 million added in the week leading to August 7.
• CPI Impact: The upcoming CPI report on Wednesday is critical, with expectations of a 3.4% headline and 0.2% core inflation rate.
• Market Analysis: The total market cap must defend the $2.20 trillion level to aim for $2.26 trillion, while a break could expose lower support levels.
• Pump.fun (PUMP): This token has gained about 16%, reaching $0.0028, and is approaching a potential breakout point.

Latest Developments in Bitcoin Holdings

• Marathon Digital Holdings sold 23,093 BTC for approximately $1.6 billion in the first half of 2026.
• As of June 30, 2026, Marathon still holds 35,577 BTC, valued at around $2.1 billion based on a spot price of $58,524.
• A significant transaction in March 2026 involved the sale of 15,133 BTC for about $1.1 billion, partly to manage convertible note debts.
• Marathon's strategy has shifted from purely accumulating Bitcoin to a more balanced approach, utilizing its treasury for operational costs, debt repayment, and expansion into energy and AI infrastructure.
• In Q2 2026, Marathon extracted an additional 2,422 BTC, increasing its operational hashrate to 70.3 EH/s.
• Revenue for Q2 2026 was reported at $174.9 million, but the company faced a net loss of approximately $611 million due to mark-to-market adjustments on its digital asset portfolio.
• In August 2026, Marathon pledged 18,750 BTC as collateral for a $600 million loan, maintaining a loan-to-value ratio below 60% to avoid selling Bitcoin at unfavorable prices.

Latest Insights on XRP

XRP is currently trading around $1.03, having experienced a decline of over 5% in the previous week. It remains below its 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs), indicating a bearish technical structure.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is near 39, and the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) shows a negative signal, suggesting ongoing selling pressure. The critical support level for XRP is at $1.00, which buyers must defend to prevent further declines.

To improve its short-term outlook, XRP needs to reclaim the 50-day EMA at $1.10. Currently, it is positioned below all major moving averages, reflecting weakness across various time frames. Any recovery attempts may face selling pressure as the price approaches these moving averages.

A sustained daily close above $1.10 would indicate improving short-term momentum, while a close below $1.00 could lead to increased selling pressure and a deeper correction. The next significant resistance levels are at $1.18 (100-day EMA) and $1.30.

Latest Insights on Ethereum

Ethereum (ETH) is currently trading around $1,918, maintaining a mildly bullish outlook. It is positioned above the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $1,864, but faces resistance at the 100-day EMA near $1,924.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at 56, indicating steady buying momentum without being overbought. A decisive move above the 100-day EMA could pave the way for a target of $2,000, which is a significant psychological resistance level.

Key resistance levels include:

• 100-day EMA at $1,924
• Psychological resistance at $2,000
• 200-day EMA at approximately $2,124

If Ethereum fails to maintain support above the 50-day EMA, it could face a deeper correction, with the next significant support level at $1,385.

New Insights on XRP Price Predictions

A prediction market indicates a 65% chance of XRP falling below $1 by the end of August, aligning with technical analysis showing a bearish trend.

XRP has formed a head-and-shoulders pattern, suggesting a potential price drop, with significant sell volume observed recently.

Whales are heavily shorting XRP, with a whale-retail divergence score of -6.3, indicating professional traders are 96% more short than retail investors.

Spot outflows for XRP have decreased dramatically, dropping from $56 million to $4.3 million, reflecting a 92% decline in retail buying optimism.

The critical support level for XRP is at $1.02, which coincides with the 0.618 Fibonacci level. A break below this could lead to a further decline towards $0.92.

For bullish momentum to return, XRP needs to reclaim levels above $1.09, with $1.16 being the key resistance to negate the bearish setup.