Whale Accumulation Across BTC, ETH And XRP Signals Late-Stage Bear Market, CryptoQuant Data Shows
In Brief
CryptoQuant: Smart money accumulates BTC, ETH, XRP near realized prices, signaling late bear phase with floor still unconfirmed.
Cryptocurrency analytics firm CryptoQuant has reported that institutional and high-net-worth investors, commonly referred to as smart money, are increasingly positioning themselves across major digital assets.
The data indicates a broad trend of accumulation among large holders, even as retail-sized positions continue to show divergent behavior.
Bitcoin whales have been steadily increasing their holdings throughout 2026. According to CryptoQuant, addresses excluding exchanges and mining pools now hold approximately 3.06 million BTC. These entities added aggressively during the June dip below $60,000, though current holdings remain below the 2025 bull-cycle peak of roughly 3.23 million BTC.
In parallel, XRP whales are quietly building positions. Spot order sizes remain in what analysts describe as “big whale” territory while the asset trades within the $1.00 to $1.20 range. The 90-day taker Cumulative Volume Delta sits in a neutral phase, suggesting accumulation through passive absorption rather than forceful market buying. Ethereum presents a more nuanced picture.
The 10,000 to 100,000 ETH balance cohort has climbed to record highs near 19.6 million ETH, while mega-whales holding over 100,000 ETH have expanded their positions by approximately 1.8 million ETH since mid-2025, representing a 70% increase.
Conversely, the smaller 1,000 to 10,000 ETH cohort has distributed roughly 2.7 million ETH since January, indicating a transfer of supply from smaller to larger holders.
Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP Trade Near Realized Prices in Sign of Late Bear Market Phase
From a valuation standpoint, major assets are approaching levels historically associated with late-stage bear markets. Bitcoin, trading near $64,000, and XRP, around $1.10, are both positioned close to their respective realized prices of approximately $52,900 and $0.75.
Ethereum, currently near $1,900, is trading below its realized price of roughly $2,450 and sits near the lower valuation band.
At the time of writing, Bitcoin was changing hands at $64,471 following a 0.68% daily gain, with an intraday range between $63,860 and $64,920.
Ethereum stood at $1,898, up 1.63% over the past 24 hours after trading between $1,857 and $1,922. The global cryptocurrency market capitalization reached $2.2 trillion, reflecting a 0.42% increase, while total 24-hour volume rose 3.36% to $57.34 billion.
CryptoQuant analysts note that risk-reward profiles have improved markedly as large holders absorb supply, reducing downside pressure and signaling what may be the final phase of the bear market.
However, they caution that the market is not fully de-risked, and from a pure valuation perspective, some additional downside remains possible before a confirmed floor is established.
Disclaimer
In line with the Trust Project guidelines, please note that the information provided on this page is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of advice. It is important to only invest what you can afford to lose and to seek independent financial advice if you have any doubts. For further information, we suggest referring to the terms and conditions as well as the help and support pages provided by the issuer or advertiser. MetaversePost is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice.
About The Author
Alisa, a dedicated journalist at the MPost, specializes in crypto, AI, investments, and the expansive realm of Web3. With a keen eye for emerging trends and technologies, she delivers comprehensive coverage to inform and engage readers in the ever-evolving landscape of digital finance.
More articles
Alisa, a dedicated journalist at the MPost, specializes in crypto, AI, investments, and the expansive realm of Web3. With a keen eye for emerging trends and technologies, she delivers comprehensive coverage to inform and engage readers in the ever-evolving landscape of digital finance.
