European bank deal and whale activity fuel hopes for an XRP comeback

Despite a sluggish market, traders are watching the prospect of an XRP comeback as fresh European banking ties and renewed whale interest emerge.

XRP price holds above $2 while traders stay cautious

XRP has traded just above $2 in recent weeks, moving mostly sideways even as other altcoins recovered more strongly. The token hovered around $2.04, signaling a weaker rebound compared to competitors but still maintaining resilience on global markets.

Moreover, XRP continues to show strength in Southeast Asian markets, where trading interest remains high despite flat price action. The asset retains a market cap dominance of 3.96%, close to its yearly peak, underscoring its continued relevance among large-cap digital assets.

For now, derivatives traders are more cautious. XRP open interest sits near a six-month low at $1.36B, suggesting that many market participants expect several more months of sideways trading. However, this reduced leverage could also limit downside risk and create conditions for a sharper move once sentiment turns.

On social channels, interest remains strong. XRP currently commands a social media mindshare of 16.4%, after a recent increase of more than 31%. That said, the heightened attention has not yet translated into a decisive spot price breakout.

Ripple secures Amina Bank deal to advance European strategy

Ripple has announced a key partnership with Amina Bank AG, marking a significant step in its push into the European banking system. Amina Bank is supervised by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority and operates with a global footprint, giving Ripple a high-profile institutional ally.

This deal makes Amina Bank the first European lender to use Ripple’s fully licensed end-to-end payments network. Moreover, the bank plans to weave blockchain-based operations into its traditional payment rails, seeking to streamline interaction between bank interfaces and distributed ledger infrastructure.

Ripple’s chain will be deployed to enable faster and cheaper value transfers beyond legacy payment systems. The goal is to improve settlement efficiency for cross-border flows and reduce costs for institutional and corporate users.

“Native web3 businesses often run into friction when working with legacy banking systems,” said Myles Harrison, Chief Product Officer at AMINA Bank. His comments highlight the persistent gap between digital asset firms and conventional financial institutions.

“This is particularly the case for cross-border stablecoin transactions which traditional banks are yet to widely adopt. Our clients need payment infrastructure that can handle both fiat and stablecoin rails simultaneously, but traditional correspondent banking networks weren’t designed to support this,” Harrison added.

Beyond payments, Amina Bank can also function as a regulated on-ramp to digital assets. It will provide access to specialized stablecoins, including RippleUSD (RLUSD), alongside other tokenized fiat instruments. However, market impact will depend on actual transaction volumes routed through Ripple’s network over time.

Whale behavior and Asian flows underpin XRP demand

The story around an XRP comeback is not driven only by corporate deals. On-chain and exchange data show that large holders and Asian traders are increasingly important in shaping the token’s short-term dynamics.

In particular, Southeast Asia, and especially South Korea, has become a focal point for XRP activity. On leading local platform Upbit, trades involving XRP account for about 11.9% of Korean won volume, signaling robust interest from domestic traders.

Whale behavior appears to be shifting as well. Large XRP holders have reduced deposits to centralized exchanges and instead are placing bigger buy orders around the $2 area. Moreover, this pattern is typically read as a sign of renewed accumulation, rather than preparation for immediate profit-taking.

South Korean exchanges are now registering a fresh wave of demand. Upbit, in particular, is seeing an increase in XRP withdrawals for the first time since 2023, which may indicate that retail traders are once again moving coins into private wallets for longer-term holding.

According to CryptoQuant data, XRP continues to attract whale-sized orders even after its recent price pullback. That said, many retail buyers remain underwater on tokens accumulated at higher levels, which can limit momentum as they seek to break even.

Whales previously distributed holdings when XRP traded above $3, but they have since been buying back at lower ranges. This rotation suggests that large players are positioning for a potential next breakout, even as derivatives traders stay cautious.

Outlook for XRP after the Amina Bank agreement

Ripple’s new alignment with Amina Bank, combined with rising activity on South Korean platforms and clear signs of whale accumulation, gives XRP a stronger fundamental and liquidity backdrop. However, the price still needs a clear catalyst to escape its current $2 trading band.

If social interest, institutional adoption and Asian spot demand continue to build, XRP could be better positioned for a sustainable recovery. For now, subdued derivatives exposure, steady on-chain accumulation and the European banking expansion form the key pillars supporting the token’s medium-term narrative.