- XRP wallets holding 1M–10M tokens increased by 37%, driving whale accumulation and boosting XRP’s market cap above $149.9B.
- Ethereum’s layer 2 growth via Soneium sparks active whale trading, with $39.2M ETH moved from Coinbase Institutional.
- SEC vs. Ripple case pivotal as SEC’s appeal looms; leadership change to Paul Atkins may reshape U.S. crypto regulations.
According to Santiment, XRP and Ethereum are the top trending assets, having trader interest amid recent market rebounds. XRP’s potential in banking and financial transactions has driven renewed optimism, while Ethereum has gained attention due to its layer 2 developments.
XRP Renewed Optimism and Whale Accumulation
XRP’s renewed interest is largely attributed to its efficiency and low transaction costs, making it a favorable bridge currency for cross border payments. Predictions of big price increases and market cap growth are growing, along with speculation about potential ETF approvals that could attract substantial investments in XRP.
Santiment data notes that wallets holding between 1 million and 10 million XRP have been accumulating significantly, owning over 37% more coins than two months ago. This accumulation coincides with an increase in whale transactions, reflecting growing interest among large investors.
XRP recently hit $2.69, its highest since December 17, 2024, and surpassed BlackRock in market cap, reaching $149.9 billion compared to BlackRock’s $148.4 billion.
Ethereum’s Ecosystem Expansion
Ethereum has also had notable activity, driven by the launch of Soneium, a new Layer 2 blockchain developed by Sony. This has led to increased transactions within the Ethereum ecosystem, with multiple large scale ETH transfers indicating active trading and investment.
According to Sosovalue, the total net inflow of Ethereum spot ETF on January 14 was $1.1527 million, bringing the total net asset value to $11.398 billion. Historical cumulative net inflow now stands at $2.414 billion.
Whale Alert reported a transfer of 12,249 ETH, worth approximately $39.2 million, from Coinbase Institutional to Coinbase, further indicating the active movement of Ethereum assets.
SEC vs. Ripple Case
The crypto market is keeping an eye on the ongoing SEC vs. Ripple case, with January 15 being a pivotal date. The SEC is expected to file its appeal related opening brief, potentially challenging the Programmatic Sales of XRP ruling.
Judge Analisa Torres’ July 2023 decision stated that these sales did not meet the Howey Test criteria, allowing U.S. crypto exchanges to relist XRP and ETF issuers to apply for U.S. XRP spot ETFs.
The outcome could have substantial implications for XRP’s classification and the broader digital asset space. SEC Chair Gary Gensler is set to step down soon, with a Trump appointed successor, Paul Atkins, expected to take over. This leadership change could influence the SEC’s approach to crypto enforcement and the potential withdrawal of the appeal.
Broader Market Implications and Future Trends
While XRP’s bullish sentiment and whale accumulation suggest a potential rally, the broader market sentiment and regulatory developments will be crucial in its movement. Ethereum’s recent bearish sentiment indicates possible capital rotation to other assets.
Data from Lookonchain shows that Trump’s World Liberty exchanged $9.89 million worth of WBTC for 3,075 ETH and deposited 18,536 ETH, worth $59.8 million, into Coinbase Prime. These movements highlight ongoing strategic asset reallocations within the market.