Ripple (XRP) Gains Momentum as CEO Confirms Traditional Finance Is “All-In” on Crypto

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Key Highlights

  • Wallets containing 10,000+ XRP have surged to an unprecedented 332,230, indicating robust accumulation trends.
  • April saw XRPL monthly transactions peak at 71 million, marking a 65% increase compared to the previous year.
  • Technical analysts identify $1.50 as a critical barrier where the 100-day EMA intersects with triangle pattern resistance.
  • ETF investors acquired $18.52 million in XRP, pushing aggregate ETF holdings to $1.25 billion in net assets.
  • Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple’s CEO, emphasized XRP’s competitive advantages: 3–5 second settlements and minimal transaction fees.

Ripple’s native token has staged an impressive comeback from its April trough of $1.26, climbing to a three-week peak of $1.50. This 19% rebound has positioned the asset at a pivotal technical juncture.

xrp priceXRP Price

Large holder activity stands out as a driving force behind this resurgence. According to Santiment analytics, addresses containing a minimum of 10,000 XRP have reached an unprecedented 332,230. This uptrend has been developing consistently since June 2024.

“Historical patterns indicate that expanding numbers of mid-to-large sized wallets reflect growing conviction among investors prioritizing long-term holdings over short-term market fluctuations,” Santiment stated.

Market analyst CW8900 presented data demonstrating that XRP whale long positions continue to outweigh retail participation, indicating that major market participants are “sustaining a positive market outlook.”

Unlike $BTC and $ETH, $XRP whales are maintaining a bullish view.

Long positions remain dominant. Additionally, the whales' long position ratio is increasing. https://t.co/2iIMXvaHUG pic.twitter.com/Hpjbq0pSRi

— CW (@CW8900) May 13, 2026

Blockchain metrics tell a similar story. The XRP Ledger processed 71 million transactions in April, compared to 43 million during the same period last year — representing a substantial 65% annual growth rate. Treasury management firm Evernorth attributes this expansion to institutional adoption involving Bitstamp, RLUSD, Braza Bank, and various DeFi platforms.

Whale Insider disclosed on X that ETF participants acquired $18.52 million in XRP, elevating total ETF-managed net assets to $1.25 billion. This development underscores increasing appetite from conventional financial players.

JUST IN: ETF clients buy $18.52 million worth of $XRP, bringing total ETF-held net assets to $1.25 billion. pic.twitter.com/dOEJceHMxS

— Whale Insider (@WhaleInsider) May 15, 2026

Critical $1.50 Resistance Zone Under Spotlight

XRP is currently attempting to breach an ascending triangle formation that has contained price movement since February’s beginning. The $1.50 area represents a confluence where the triangle’s upper boundary meets the 100-day exponential moving average.

This price level has successfully repelled upward attempts four times since mid-February. Technical analyst ChartNerd observed on X that “$1.50/55 stands as immediate resistance requiring a breakthrough,” while simultaneously highlighting that XRP has maintained support above its daily 20 EMA since recapturing it in early May.

Above $1.50, the subsequent resistance cluster appears between $1.67 and $1.70, where the 200-day EMA currently resides. Triangle pattern projections suggest a potential advance toward $1.98.

Market analyst Neel emphasized that XRP requires “a decisive move above $1.60 for any substantial near-term advance,” further noting that surpassing $2.00 would “spark renewed bullish momentum.”

Ripple’s CEO Explains XRP’s Competitive Edge

Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, articulated what distinguishes XRP from competing major digital assets. During a “Crypto in a Minute” discussion, he explained that XRP was engineered specifically for payment solutions, contrasting with Bitcoin’s evolution into a value storage mechanism.

What makes $XRP unique?@bgarlinghouse answers in under a minute.⏱

4 billion transactions.
3–5 second settlements.
Less than a penny each.
A community that never stopped believing.

A special edition of C̶r̶y̶p̶t̶o̶ ̶I̶n̶ ̶O̶n̶e̶ ̶M̶i̶n̶u̶t̶e̶ $XRP In One Minute starts now. pic.twitter.com/Pbpz136Hha

— Ripple (@Ripple) May 13, 2026

He highlighted three distinguishing characteristics: finality achieved in 3–5 seconds, transaction expenses measuring fractions of a cent, and over 4 billion successfully processed transactions on the XRP Ledger.

Garlinghouse also participated in a Binance Square discussion alongside Lily Liu from the Solana Foundation and Binance co-CEO Richard Teng. He characterized traditional finance’s crypto engagement as “genuinely encouraging,” referencing Morgan Stanley’s recent market entry as evidence.

XRP currently trades in the $1.43 to $1.50 range, with the $1.50 resistance level representing the immediate technical challenge ahead.

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