TLDR:XRP whale transactions above $1M plunged from 157 to 67 in just nine days, per analyst Ali Martinez.Price is coiling tightly between resistance at $1.54 and key support at $1.29 amid fading volume.A dense liquidity wall between $1.60 and $1.85 is capping upside, while bids defend the $1.28 zone.RSI hovers near oversold levels without full capitulation, hinting that sellers are losing their grip.The biggest players in the XRP market have pulled back sharply, with large-holder activity dropping 57.3% in just nine days. Rather than signaling retreat, on-chain data and chart structure suggest the market may be quietly building toward its next directional move.XRP’s Big Holders Go Quiet as Price Coils Into a Tight RangeLarge-holder activity on the XRP network has dropped sharply, with transactions above $1 million falling from 157 to just 67 over a nine-day window, per data flagged by on-chain analyst Ali Martinez. The 57.3% contraction marks a meaningful shift in market behavior — one that typically precedes consolidation rather than collapse. As these heavyweight participants stepped back, the market transitioned into a quieter, more measured state.In the last 9 days, whale activity on the $XRP network has dropped from 157 large transactions worth over $1 million to just 67 today, representing a 57.3% decline.When large-scale transaction volume thins out like this, it tells me the market could be entering a compression… pic.twitter.com/lVQGjhqVzG— Ali Charts (@alicharts) May 23, 2026Price has been drifting between two well-defined levels — resistance at $1.54 and support near $1.29 — without mounting a convincing move in either direction. Volume has steadily faded during this stretch, reinforcing the picture of a market in deliberate pause rather than distress.The RSI has remained near oversold territory for an extended period without sparking a full breakdown, suggesting sellers are losing momentum rather than pressing a dominant position. Buyers, for their part, continue to absorb pressure near $1.29 with quiet persistence. It is a market holding its breath — and historically, that kind of stillness rarely lasts.Liquidity Data Frames the Stakes of XRP’s Next MovePull up the liquidity heatmap, and the tension becomes immediately visible. A dense wall of resting sell orders sits between $1.60 and $1.85, represented by bright clusters that reflect heavy positioning from large participants. That overhead supply has consistently capped upside attempts, acting as a ceiling the market has yet to seriously challenge. Below the current price, the picture is equally telling. $XRP again back at range lows as 4HR RSI hits oversold.As we discussed yesterday, liquidity on the hourly suggests a sweep of the $1.22 range seems likely.With that being said, on the daily, liquidity seriously suggests we start to move higher soon. Just need to work… pic.twitter.com/3bvO4UcDkl— Cryptoinsightuk (@Cryptoinsightuk) May 23, 2026A layered bid cushion has formed around the $1.20–$1.28 zone, pointing to continued defensive positioning from market makers and larger players despite the overall slowdown. XRP is effectively sandwiched — sell-side pressure above, buy-side support below — with neither camp willing to make the first decisive move.The volume profile adds further context. Peak trading activity is concentrated right at the current price range, confirming that the market is settling into fair-value equilibrium. This is not a trending market — it is a loading one. A breakout above the $1.60 liquidity cluster could trigger cascading short liquidations and push the price sharply higher. A confirmed breakdown below $1.29, backed by rising volume, would tell a different story — one where patience from large holders gives way to distribution. For now, XRP sits at a crossroads, and the next move may carry significant weight.The post XRP Whale Activity Falls 57% in 9 Days: Is a Breakout Loading? appeared first on Blockonomi.