Why Holder Fatigue Could Be a Bullish Contrarian Indicator

A sentiment shift appears underway within the XRP community, one that seems to transcend typical bull/bear market cycles. A more subtle feeling reportedly emerges: emotional fatigue among long-term holders.

XRP community member “All Things XRP” (@XRP_investing) noted on X (formerly Twitter) that holders have endured much over the past four years. This included the protracted Ripple vs. SEC legal battle, constant news cycles, small wins offering temporary hope, and long waits for a significant price breakthrough.

Many within the community expected XRP’s price to surge once the lawsuit finally concluded. That expected surge, however, did not materialize when the case effectively ended.

What Caused the Recent XRP Disappointment?

For context, XRP started March strong, touching $2.98 briefly. This move followed President Donald Trump mentioning Ripple in connection with a potential US National Crypto Reserve concept. The excitement proved short-lived. Trump later clarified that specific assets like XRP, Solana (SOL), and Cardano (ADA) were not included in the initial reserve plans, which caused a sharp price drop for those tokens.

Later, when the SEC dropped its appeal against Ripple recently – news usually considered positive for price – XRP still failed to surge past the $3 mark. Instead of a large rally, the market remained quiet. This gap between high expectations following positive news and the actual muted price performance fueled holder disappointment and fatigue.

Related: XRP Funding Rate Dips to Historic Lows as Traders Eye Short Squeeze Potential

Why Do Some Remain Bullish Despite Price Lag?

Even with the stalled price action in recent months, arguments for XRP’s underlying potential persist. Proponents point to its increasing use in reported real-world payment flows, potential bank adoption of related Ripple technology, and ongoing Ripple company projects involving central banks exploring digital currencies. Despite these background developments, broad market excitement for XRP has not yet returned to previous levels.

According to “All Things XRP,” this quiet period and holder fatigue could actually be a positive contrarian signal. They suggest retail investor exhaustion often precedes major market shifts. While retail investors step back, the analyst implies, larger institutional players or “whales” may quietly accumulate assets during these lulls, preparing for the next market cycle.

Are Whales Accumulating XRP During This Lull?

Crypto analyst Amonyx (@amonbuy) recently highlighted this possibility on X. He shared details of a significant on-chain transaction involving 29 million XRP moving between wallets. Amonyx posted a screenshot of the activity, adding the caption, “Whales keep buying; they definitely know what’s coming.”

Related: Top Analyst Identifies Technical Pattern to Drive XRP Prices to $4.60

Voices within the XRP community reflect this mixed picture of fatigue and underlying hope. One holder commented online, “At some point in 2025, it will begin its journey into positive territory for all the reasons you’ve elaborated.” Another shared a more difficult personal story: “Through all of that, I held—since 2019. Then about a month ago, I was phished… My XRP bags stolen… It’s been a hell of a ride to end up with nothing. A hard lesson. Will rebuild.”