- XRP has dropped below $1.75, losing 18% overnight amid global market fears sparked by renewed U.S. tariffs and trade tensions.
- Despite the decline, large investors are accumulating more XRP, signaling long-term confidence in the token.
Ripple’s XRP token has taken a sharp nosedive, plunging 18% overnight to fall below the $1.75 mark. The downturn came in the wake of rising global economic fears, ignited by renewed tariff tensions between the United States and its trading partners. While most retail investors are bracing for further declines, big-money holders—known as whales—are quietly accumulating more XRP at discounted prices.
Global Tensions Fuel Market Sell-Off
The most recent XRP crash appears closely tied to U.S. President Donald Trump’s stance on international trade. On April 2, the president reinforced his administration’s commitment to maintaining tariffs, insisting that the country’s trade deficit must be addressed before any agreements are reached.
These comments have sent ripples across financial markets—crypto included. Baseline U.S. tariffs triggered a global market retreat on Sunday, with investors fearing that prolonged trade tensions could drag the world economy into a recession. XRP responded with a 10% drop in a single day, adding to a 10% decline over the past week.
Not Just XRP: The Whole Market Is Red
XRP isn’t alone in this downturn. Bitcoin dropped to $76,400 and Ethereum slipped to $1,535 on Monday, echoing the broader market sentiment. Stocks also trended downward, highlighting the far-reaching effects of political uncertainty.
However, the extent of XRP’s losses stood out. The token has underperformed its peers, falling “faster than gravity,” as some analysts put it. But that doesn’t mean all investors are heading for the exits.
Whales Accumulate as Prices Slide
While retail panic has dominated headlines, some of XRP’s largest holders have taken the recent price dip as a buying opportunity. According to blockchain analytics firm Santiment, the percentage of XRP held by wallets containing 100,000 to 1 million tokens rose from 5.189% to 5.267% of the total supply. Even more notably, those holding between 10 and 100 million XRP increased their share from 3.046% to 3.406%.
This trend suggests that large-scale investors are betting on a future rebound—even as short-term conditions remain uncertain.
With economic policy continuing to shape market sentiment, XRP could face more volatility in the days ahead. However, whale accumulation hints at underlying confidence in the asset’s long-term potential. For now, though, Ripple’s token remains under heavy selling pressure—stuck between global uncertainty and opportunistic accumulation.
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