The number of XRP shark wallets holding at least 10,000 tokens has increased to 343,500, according to recent data provided by Santiment.
This represents an addition of 16,815 wallets, or 5.15%, over the past nine months. These addresses fall into the category of shark wallets, which generally describes holders with larger positions than ordinary retail investors but smaller holdings than the biggest institutional accounts.
What makes the growth interesting is that it has continued while XRP’s price has fallen toward $1.05, which could indicate that this address tier has embarked on an accumulation spree at lower prices.
XRP Shark Wallets Keep Growing as Prices Fall
The increase in shark wallet numbers comes at a time when XRP is struggling to recover from a prolonged decline.
The token has lost roughly 30% of its value in the past seven weeks as the broader market correction gathered pace through October and into early November 2026. October alone saw XRP drop by 16%, making it the token’s fourth-worst October performance since it began trading in 2013.
Bitcoin’s decline from its record high of $126,199 in early October 2025 has added to the pressure on altcoins. XRP has followed the broader market lower, falling from approximately $1.55 at the beginning of October to around $1.05.
This latest decline also shows XRP’s tendency to suffer greater losses than Bitcoin when the crypto market turns bearish.
However, the decline in XRP’s price has not stopped the growth in wallets holding at least 10,000 tokens. Instead, their numbers have continued to rise, leading to discussions of an ongoing “buy-the-dip” campaign.
Santiment sees this trend as a sign that traders with more capital are taking advantage of lower prices to increase their XRP positions instead of leaving the market.
The growth has also been gradual. Over the past nine months, the shark wallet count has increased steadily without the sudden jumps often associated with speculative buying.
XRP $1.00 Price Level Faces a Major Test
While large holders continue to increase their positions, XRP’s immediate price outlook remains uncertain. The $1.00 level has become particularly important as the market heads into the second half of November.
With XRP trading near $1.05, the dollar mark is now just below its current price and acts as both a psychological level and an important technical reference.
Analysts have linked $1.00 to the 0.618 Fibonacci retracement of XRP’s multi-year upsurge. A decisive break below this level, especially with high trading volume, could lead to a deeper breakdown in the token’s market structure.
The loss of $1.05 as support has made the situation more difficult for buyers. XRP previously relied on this level to limit its losses, but the price has since fallen below it, turning the former support into resistance.
Consequently, any attempt to recover above $1.05 could face selling pressure from traders who are looking to exit their positions. This leaves the $1.00 mark as the next major level buyers need to defend.
What Could Happen Next for XRP?
Santiment’s outlook depends largely on whether shark wallet growth continues and XRP can defend the $1.00 level.
If the number of wallets holding at least 10,000 tokens keeps increasing, XRP stays above $1.00, and Bitcoin stabilizes, the market could have room for a quick recovery toward $1.10 to $1.15.
A return to this range would be important after XRP lost nearly one-third of its value in less than two months. However, the recovery would still bring the token into an area where analysts have identified notable short-term resistance, meaning buyers could face another challenge as the price moves higher.
The opposite outcome could create more problems. A close below $1.00, combined with a reversal in shark wallet growth, could encourage retail investors to sell their holdings.
XRP’s investor base has a larger retail presence than Bitcoin’s increasingly institutionalized market. As a result, XRP tends to be more sensitive to sharp price movements and could experience heavier panic selling during a market downturn.
However, Santiment suggests that such a decline could eventually attract buyers. When fear and uncertainty push prices lower, some market participants may see the resulting sell-off as an opportunity to buy at cheaper levels, potentially setting the stage for a rebound.