XRP News: XRP Whales Sell 470M Tokens as SEC ETF Decision Delays Pressure Market

XRP traded lower this week as heavy whale selling combined with another round of delays from U.S. regulators. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) extended deadlines for multiple spot exchange-traded fund applications, including XRP, until October 2025.

The move came as large holders shed nearly half a billion XRP in less than two weeks. Price action reflected the pressure, with XRP closing at $2.89 on Aug. 20, according to TradingView data, below its 20-day average and close to critical support levels.

XRP News: SEC pushes back ETF timeline again

The SEC announced new deadlines for pending crypto ETF filings, including proposals tied to XRP, Solana, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Ethereum, and Bitcoin. The revised dates, detailed by analyst CryptoGoos on X, stretch from Oct. 8 through Oct. 23, 2025.

Among the delayed products were Truth Social’s spot Bitcoin and Ethereum funds, Grayscale’s XRP trust, and multiple applications from CoinShares and 21Shares. Each deadline was pushed back as the regulator cited ongoing reviews.

For traders, the decision reinforced the SEC’s cautious stance on broadening ETF access beyond Bitcoin. While Bitcoin ETFs attracted billions earlier this year, applications tied to altcoins like XRP faced deeper scrutiny due to regulatory disputes and unresolved classification debates.

Whales unload during uncertainty

Large holders took advantage of the uncertainty to trim positions. Analyst Ali reported that whales sold 470 million XRP in the last 10 days, marking one of the sharpest liquidations of the year.

The sales coincided with XRP testing $2.80 support. Technical indicators suggested rising volatility, with the token slipping toward the lower Bollinger Band at $2.78. A break below that level could open the path to $2.60, adding pressure on already fragile sentiment.

Whale selling has historically amplified XRP’s downside swings. Liquidity concentration means that when a few wallets offload large volumes, order books thin and price discovery skews downward.

XRP’s long-term accumulation pattern

Despite short-term weakness, XRP continued to display a multi-year accumulation trend versus Bitcoin. Analyst Galaxy posted a chart showing that the XRP/BTC pair has consolidated for over five years, amounting to more than 2,000 days.

“We’ve been in this spot before. But not for this long,” Galaxy wrote. The prolonged range suggested heavy accumulation but no decisive breakout. Previous cycles of similar duration ended with sharp directional moves.

The length of this current accumulation has drawn interest from traders who are watching for a structural shift. However, XRP continued to lag Bitcoin’s performance, with BTC dominance steady above 60%.

XRP News: XRP Price Technical picture shows key levels

On daily charts, XRP remained capped under resistance at $3.37, the upper Bollinger Band, and the 20-day simple moving average at $3.07. Failing to reclaim those levels kept bears in control.

Momentum indicators confirmed the cautious outlook. The relative strength index stood at 42, reflecting weak demand and no signs of overbought conditions. A decisive move above 50 would be needed to reestablish short-term strength.

Support rested at $2.80, with $2.60 as the next zone if sellers persist. On the upside, a close above $3.40 would signal renewed interest and potentially target $3.80. Until then, sideways-to-lower trading remained the base case.

Outlook ahead of October deadlines

The combination of ETF delays and whale selling set the tone for XRP’s near-term trajectory. Investors appeared reluctant to increase exposure until regulatory clarity emerges, while large holders reduced risk in advance.

Still, the five-year accumulation against Bitcoin highlighted the token’s long-term potential if conditions change. Traders now looked to October as the next inflection point. Until then, defending the $2.80 region will be critical to avoid deeper corrections.

For XRP, the next two months may determine whether the current range evolves into a deeper downturn or sets the stage for a larger move once ETF clarity arrives.