XRP Price Targets $3 Amid Ripple Whale Movement – What’s Next?

Key Insights:

• 20M XRP ($50M+) transferred signaling possible large-scale trading or strategic movement by a whale, this could aid XRP price momentum.
• XRP flips Tether with a $152B market cap after surging 10% to $2.60, reclaiming 3rd place in crypto rankings.
• XRP futures open interest jumps 14.42% to $5.29B; options volume spikes 76%, indicating rising trader confidence.

A major XRP transaction worth over $50 million has drawn market attention, just as XRP briefly claimed the third spot in the global cryptocurrency market. On-chain data revealed that 20 million XRP was transferred from an unknown wallet to Bithumb, sparking fresh interest among traders. At the same time, XRP maintained price levels above $2.50, with $2.65 now seen as the next short-term target, though a pullback to $2.42 remains possible.

XRP Reclaims Third Spot After Surpassing Tether’s Market Cap

XRP has reclaimed its position as the third-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, overtaking Tether (USDT) after a 10% price rise to $2.60. Its market cap now stands at $152 billion, trailing only Bitcoin and Ethereum. In comparison, USDT hit a new milestone with a $150 billion valuation but remains price-stable as a pegged asset.

The rally is supported by rising adoption and favorable legislation. Missouri’s proposed House Bill 594 aims to allow income tax deductions on crypto gains, including XRP. Santiment data shows XRP’s holder base grew 11% in 2025, while the blockchain reached 6.5 million users for the first time in its 12-year history. XRP was also added as a payment method on Travala.com.

Source: X

Meanwhile, traders are watching $2.69 as a breakout level. Coinglass data shows futures open interest jumped 14.42% to $5.29 billion, and options volume surged 76%, indicating strong confidence in continued upward momentum.

Whale Transfers 20M XRP Amid Rising Market Activity

Blockchain tracker Whale Alert reported a 20 million XRP transfer valued at over $50 million to South Korean exchange Bithumb. Such large-scale movements often suggest upcoming trading activity or portfolio rebalancing by high-value holders.

While the exact reason for the transfer remains unknown, it coincides with rising derivatives activity. Coinglass data shows XRP futures open interest increased by 14.42% to $5.29 billion, and options volume rose 76%. These metrics indicate a growing appetite for leveraged positions and possible continued price movement.

Source: X

XRP’s network growth also supports the momentum. According to Santiment, the XRP blockchain has reached 6.5 million unique users for the first time. This rise reflects a wider base of holders and a growing community around the token.

XRP Price Holds Key Support Levels as Bulls Target $2.65

XRP currently trades near $2.47 following a partial correction from the $2.60 level. Analysts suggest the bullish trend remains intact as long as XRP holds above $2.42 , which is seen as a healthy retest zone. A drop below $2.20 could weaken momentum, but dips between $2.42 and $2.20 are still being considered by traders as accumulation zones.

Crypto analyst EGRAG CRYPTO noted,

“The structure remains bullish as long as XRP holds the higher support levels. $2.42 is the critical retest area.”

A breakout above $2.60 could push XRP price toward $2.70 and eventually higher levels if volume supports the move.

Market participants are closely watching the $2.50–$2.55 range. A confirmed breakout above this resistance zone could lead to another rally. However, short-term pullbacks remain possible as traders assess current support levels.

Regulatory Clarity and Strategic Growth Boost Ripple’s Market Outlook

Ripple has reached a final settlement with SEC in the United States to pay a reduced penalty of $ 50 million. This brings an end to a prolonged legal dispute over whether XRP was an unregistered security. As part of the agreement, the SEC dropped its appeal regarding XRP sales on public exchanges, while Ripple chose not to challenge a ruling on $728 million in institutional XRP sales.

At the same time, Ripple continues expanding its institutional footprint. The company is planning to acquire Hidden Road for $1.25 billion with a view of shifting post-trade operations onto the XRP Ledger. It also allegedly tried to acquire Circle, the issuer of USDC, paying $4–$5 bn but its bid was refused. These and the legal clarity promote the investor confidence and may signal the way to future XRP-based financial products such as ETFs.