The number of XRP wallets holding more than 1 million tokens has been climbing steadily since the start of the year, even as the token’s price has slipped slightly, a trend that analysts say could point to improving long-term confidence in the asset.

According to data from Santiment, XRP’s price is down about 4% since the beginning of 2026, but the count of so-called “millionaire” wallets has begun rising again after months of decline.

In a post on Wednesday, Santiment said this marks the first sustained increase in large XRP holders since September.

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Large-holder behavior is closely watched by traders, who often view accumulation by wealthy wallets as a signal of longer-term conviction.

Santiment noted that 42 additional wallets holding more than 1 million XRP have “returned to the ledger” since Jan. 1.

The previous quarter saw a sharp reversal, with 784 millionaire wallets disappearing between October and December, underscoring how notable the recent rebound has been.

At current prices, the threshold for joining the XRP millionaire club remains high.

With XRP trading around $1.87 at the time of publication, holdings of 1 million tokens are worth roughly $1.87 million, based on data from CoinMarketCap.

Santiment described the renewed accumulation as “an encouraging sign for the long term,” particularly given the broader market’s cautious tone.

Other on-chain metrics appear to support that view. Data from Nansen shows that XRP accumulation by “smart money” traders, wallets associated with the industry’s most consistently profitable participants, has risen 11.55% over the past 30 days.

Still, analysts remain divided on XRP’s near-term outlook.

Crypto trader CW said in a post on X that XRP appears close to breaking through a major selling wall, arguing that sustained net buying could push the price toward $2.30 if resistance gives way.

XRP is up about 1.3% over the past month, according to CoinMarketCap.

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More broadly, asset manager 21Shares recently pointed to XRP’s history of long consolidation phases followed by sharp breakouts, saying improved regulatory clarity and institutional interest could leave the network well positioned for further gains.

Others urge caution. Swyftx lead analyst Pav Hundal warned that XRP’s upside risks becoming overly dependent on narrative, adding that any surprises around the US CLARITY Act voting process could pressure prices in the near term.

Beyond XRP, market indicators suggest a challenging environment for altcoins. The CoinMarketCap Altcoin Season Index shows a Bitcoin score of 31 out of 100, signaling that Bitcoin has outperformed most major altcoins over the past 90 days.

Meanwhile, the Crypto Fear & Greed Index registered a “Fear” reading of 26 on Thursday, highlighting investors’ continued caution across the digital asset market.

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