XRP Struggles as Ripple Co-Founder Cashes Out $764M

According to CryptoQuant analyst Maartunn, Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen has realized over $764 million in profits from XRP-related sales since January 2018. The on-chain data reveals a concerning pattern: Larsen’s selling activity consistently occurs near local price peaks, creating questions about insider timing and its impact on market sentiment. This recurring behavior has become particularly noticeable during periods when XRP experiences significant rallies, with substantial selling activity from wallets tied to Ripple executives typically following price surges.

The latest XRP sale is connected to EvernorthXRP, an entity believed to be one of the wallets managing Ripple-linked holdings and distributions. While such transactions might appear routine from a portfolio management perspective, the timing and consistency of these sales have fueled debate around whether large holders are preparing for extended market weakness. The pattern becomes especially significant when it occurs during retail enthusiasm peaks, amplifying uncertainty during already fragile market conditions.

For many investors, these moves highlight the delicate balance between long-term strategic profit-taking and the perception of insider confidence in XRP’s future. The current selling activity, occurring amid a broader altcoin correction, has intensified speculation that large holders might be anticipating further market weakness. This creates a challenging environment for retail investors who must navigate the signals sent by insider trading patterns.

XRP continues to trade under significant pressure, currently consolidating around the $2.40 zone after failing to reclaim its short-term moving averages. The token’s technical picture shows persistent bearish momentum, with the 3-day chart indicating struggles below both the 50-day and 100-day moving averages. This technical weakness is compounded by fading trading volume and declining investor interest, creating a challenging environment for any potential recovery.

The recent rejection near the $2.60–$2.70 area aligns with a key resistance cluster that has consistently capped upside attempts since early October. This resistance level has become a critical barrier for bulls attempting to regain control of the price action. Despite the current weakness, XRP has managed to hold above the 200-day moving average, which currently sits near $2.00—a level that has historically acted as strong dynamic support.

Technical analysts are closely watching the $2.00 level, as a break below this crucial support could trigger further declines toward the $1.80–$1.90 zone, where previous accumulation formed earlier this year. On the upside, bulls would need to push the price decisively above $2.70 to confirm a short-term trend reversal and potentially attract fresh liquidity. The current price action suggests significant indecision and a lack of strong buying volume, leaving XRP in a vulnerable position.

The current environment for altcoins remains particularly delicate, with many tokens sitting near long-term support zones and trading well below their 200-day moving averages. This broader weakness affects XRP and other alternative cryptocurrencies, creating a challenging landscape for investors seeking returns outside of Bitcoin. The historical pattern is clear: altcoins have typically only regained strong bullish momentum after Bitcoin has convincingly broken above its all-time high.

Without this confirmation from BTC, capital tends to stay conservative, favoring liquidity and safety over speculation in altcoins. This dynamic explains why the current market conditions are particularly challenging for tokens like XRP, as investors remain cautious about allocating capital to more speculative assets while Bitcoin’s direction remains uncertain. The market’s transitional phase highlights the continued dominance of Bitcoin in setting the tone for the entire cryptocurrency ecosystem.

Investors are now closely watching whether Bitcoin’s next major move will reignite confidence across the crypto landscape or confirm that the current rally was just another temporary bounce in an uncertain cycle. Until Bitcoin reasserts dominance through a clean breakout, most altcoins—including XRP—are likely to face muted inflows and persistent volatility. This dependence on Bitcoin’s performance underscores the interconnected nature of cryptocurrency markets and the challenges facing individual tokens in establishing independent momentum.