XRP in Focus: 9% Growth, Whale Accumulation, and a Controversial $1,000 Forecast by 2030
On Monday, the altcoin market noticeably revived, and XRP became one of the main beneficiaries of this movement. The coin surged by 9.3%, reaching a local high of around $1.29. The key driver of growth was active accumulation of tokens by large holders, as well as renewed discussion of an ambitious long-term forecast suggesting a rise to $1,000.
Shift in Sentiment and Macroeconomic Background
Analytical platforms, particularly Santiment, recorded that ahead of the rally, market sentiment around XRP had fallen to its most pessimistic levels since October 2025. However, historically, periods of total pessimism often precede powerful price impulses for this cryptocurrency. The trigger for the reversal was a easing of geopolitical tensions, which pushed investors back into risk assets. Bitcoin responded by rising to $65,300, gold gained about 2%, while oil, on the contrary, lost more than 3%. XRP consolidated above $1.22, showing a daily increase of 3.25%.
Whales Continue to Build Positions
Support from the largest holders remains enormous. Blockchain data shows that wallets with a balance of over 1 million XRP now hold 74.1% of the total market supply. Over the past six months, these "whales" have increased their holdings by approximately 1.53 billion tokens. Such concentration in the hands of long-term investors, confident in the development of the Ripple ecosystem and XRP Ledger, creates a solid foundation for the price and minimizes the risks of sharp crashes.
Forecast of $1,000: Realistic Goal or Fantasy?
Against this backdrop, the forecast of Dom Kwok, co-founder of the educational app EasyA and former Goldman Sachs analyst, has once again attracted attention. He sets a long-term target for XRP of $1,000 by 2030. His argument is based on a mass adoption scenario: he compares the current evolution of the blockchain industry to the era of the internet's birth, when useful services attracted millions of users. In his view, projects on XRP Ledger create value directly for the token itself, rather than for third-party overlays.
Kwok also points to the low penetration rate of cryptocurrencies — only 7% of the world's population owns them. He believes that new users will avoid expensive Bitcoin and Ethereum, preferring the more affordable XRP. However, achieving a price of $1,000 would require an influx of trillions of dollars, pushing XRP's market capitalization above $60 trillion. Such a leap is only possible with an unprecedented level of adoption of the technology in international finance and commerce.
Comment from Cryptalist analyst: The forecast of $1,000 looks more like an inspiring narrative than a mathematically justified target in current market realities. However, current fundamental factors — active accumulation by whales and positive dynamics amid reduced geopolitical risks — indicate that XRP retains significant potential for further growth in the medium term. The key level to confirm the bullish trend will be a consolidation above $1.30.