Large Holders Accumulate Bitcoin, Ether, and XRP Amid Market Weakness
Large holders of Bitcoin, Ether, and XRP have continued to increase their positions during the recent period of market weakness, according to analytics firm CryptoQuant.
In its weekly report, titled “Buying the Bear: A Signal of the Bear Market’s Final Stage,” the firm analyzed the recent accumulation patterns among the largest wallets. CryptoQuant stated that this steady buying behavior is often observed during the closing stages of a bear market.
For Bitcoin, wallets associated with major holders, excluding exchanges and miners, have expanded their collective balance to approximately 3.06 million BTC this year. The pace of buying accelerated after Bitcoin dipped below $60,000 in June, although current holdings remain below the peak reached in the 2025 cycle.
Ethereum has demonstrated an even more pronounced accumulation trend among its largest holders. Wallets holding between 10,000 and 100,000 ETH have reached a record high of 19.6 million ETH. Meanwhile, addresses with over 100,000 ETH have added roughly 1.8 million ETH since mid-2025, marking an increase of approximately 70% in their holdings.
This accumulation trend among large holders stands in contrast to the activity seen among smaller Ethereum holders. CryptoQuant noted that wallets outside these major groups have reduced their combined balance by about 2.7 million ETH since January, indicating a widening divergence between large and small-scale holders.
A similar pattern has also been observed in XRP, where significant holders have continued to bolster their positions despite prevailing fears and liquidation events.
The recent accumulation by these large holders occurs as all three assets are trading near key realized price levels. Realized price, which estimates the average acquisition cost for holders, is a widely used metric for assessing market cycles.
Bitcoin was trading around $65,000, compared to its realized price of approximately $52,900. Ether changed hands near $1,920 against a realized price of about $2,450. XRP was trading near $1.04, with a realized price of approximately $0.75. CryptoQuant described these levels as consistent with conditions typically seen in the late stages of a bear market.
According to CryptoQuant, the combination of whale accumulation and prices trading near realized values aligns with the closing phase of a bear market. The firm cautioned, however, that further downside is still possible before a definitive market bottom is confirmed.
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