Week 5 On-chain Data: Validator Adoption Decreases to 40%; Short-Term Market Likely to Remain Volatile

By: blockbeats|2025/02/12 12:00:02
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Original Article Title: "Is the Era of Less than 40% Long-Term Holders Nearing Its End? | WTR 2.10"
Original Source: WTR Research Institute

Weekly Recap


For the week of February 3rd to February 10th, the price of Blood Orange reached a high near $102,500 and a low close to $91,231, with a fluctuation range of approximately 10.99%. Looking at the distribution of chips, there was a large volume of chips traded around 95,000, which may provide some support or resistance.

Week 5 On-chain Data: Validator Adoption Decreases to 40%; Short-Term Market Likely to Remain Volatile

• Analysis:
1. 60000-68000 approximately 1.68 million coins;
2. 90000-100000 approximately 2.6175 million coins;
• The probability of not breaking below 87,000 to 91,000 in the short term is 85%;
• The probability of not breaking above 110,000 to 115,000 in the short term is 69%.

Important News Aspects


Economic News Aspect


1. Data from last Friday showed that the U.S. unemployment rate in January was 4.0% (previous value 4.1%).
2. January non-farm employment added 143,000 people (previous value 307,000 people).
3. The Fed has already reduced its balance sheet by over $2 trillion in this round, with the initial balance sheet size decreasing from about $9 trillion to $6.87 trillion, and the overnight reverse repurchase agreement size dropping from the previous high of $2.5 trillion to $780 billion.
4. The Fed's monetary policy report last Friday mentioned "plans to stop shrinking the balance sheet at the appropriate time."

Cryptocurrency Ecosystem News Aspect


1. The Strategic BTC Reserve Bill (Senate Bill 778) in the U.S. state of Texas was submitted to the Senate Finance Committee for review on February 7th. It aims to establish a state government-controlled BTC reserve to enhance financial security and promote digital asset innovation.

2. Cynthia Lummis, the sponsor of the U.S. "BTC Strategic Reserve Bill" and head of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Digital Assets, stated: If the U.S. used 5% of the total BTC supply (approximately 1 million BTC) to establish a reserve, then U.S. debt could be halved in the next 20 years.

3. Felix Hartmann, Founder of Hartmann Capital, expressed: I might be a little early, but I feel like we are approaching the bottom. Interest rates have been negative for some time now, and the futures premium flipped to negative a few weeks ago;

4. The AI token has dropped by 80-99%; high-quality alternative tokens have retraced to the long-term trendline, eliminating the over-exuberance of the fourth quarter; market sentiment has completely collapsed, which is often the best signal, and today's sense of despair feels just as irrational as the fourth-quarter frenzy.

5. Global macro market commentary magazine "Kobeissi Letter" stated: ETH's short positions have increased by 40% in one week, skyrocketing by 500% since November 2024, reaching an unprecedented scale of shorting ETH, surpassing any previous time.

6. On February 10, Michael Saylor stated: Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) increased its holdings by 7633 BTC at an average price of $97,255, with a total value of approximately $7.424 billion. BlackRock's ownership stake in Strategy has increased to 5%.

7. The participation of the younger generation, concerns about inflation, and Trump's pro-crypto stance are driving this growth, with the BTC ETF expected to surpass $250 billion, along with accumulating regulatory favorability, cryptocurrencies are accelerating into the mainstream.

8. Currently, 27 U.S. states have shown a strong interest in BTC, with Kentucky and Maryland legislators each proposing a "BTC reserve" bill, and a Florida senator also introducing a BTC investment bill. Utah may become the first U.S. state to establish a BTC reserve, as they have only 45 days to make a decision.

9. Tischhauser stated: If the U.S. establishes a BTC reserve, each additional $1 billion inflow could trigger a $200 billion market cap multiplier effect for BTC. The potential demand shock would be significant because BTC's circulating supply is very limited.

10. Economist Alex Kruger stated that the current market is not progressing as smoothly as previous bull markets. First, the Federal Reserve turned hawkish in December last year, then TRUMP caused massive volatility and liquidity outflow. For the crypto market, the most similar situations to the current one are May 2021 and May 2024. Alex believes that after the turbulence, prices will continue to rise.

Long-term Insights: Used to observe our long-term situation; Bull Market / Bear Market / Structural Changes / Neutral State
Medium-term Exploration: Used to analyze which stage we are currently in, how long this stage will last, and what circumstances we will face
Short-term Observation: Used to analyze the short-term market conditions; as well as the emergence of some trends and the likelihood of certain events under certain conditions

Long-term Insights


• U.S. Crypto ETF Reserves Flow
• Long-term Investor Participation Rate
• Large Value Transfers Off-chain
• Short-term Speculators' Cost


(See below the Reserve Flow of US Crypto ETF)


While the fund inflow status may sometimes show some outflows or sell-offs, more often than not, there is still a prevalent buying interest, with the outflow of funds not being sustained.

(See below the Percentage of Long-Term Investors' Participation)


The percentage of long-term participants has further declined, dropping to 39%. Caution needs to be exercised regarding potential market risks in the future.

(See below the Large Transaction Transfer Header)


After experiencing selling pressure caused by recent days' fund inflow, resulting in a downward price test, the market has returned to a characteristic where a buying interest is gradually being maintained. There is still a slight buying interest in the market.

(See below the Short-Term Speculators' Cost)


The cost for short-term speculators has surged to $92,000, a price that will act as a psychological barrier or a support level, especially as short-term participants' proportion increases.

Mid-Term Exploration


• Incremental Model
• Liquidity Supply Volume
• Whale Composite Score Model
• USDC Buying Power Composite Score
• ETH Exchange Trend Net Header
• BTC Exchange Trend Net Header


(See below the Incremental Model)


There are signs of incremental growth and supply increase to a certain extent, but the current volume is too small. The volume that could drive the market is not yet in place, or there is some cautious sentiment in the funding landscape.

(See below the Liquidity Supply Volume)


There is a noticeable increase in liquidity, mainly seen when the market is in a phase of consolidation or correction, where the liquidity supply volume will provide support and reinforcement. The liquidity of the current market may have slightly improved, and the risk of deterioration in this stage may be mitigated.

(See below the Whale Composite Score)


The whale's recent score status is not very clear, as it fluctuates between low and high states. There may be significant disagreements among the whales in the current market dynamics. If the whale's score status continues at the current pace, there may be significant turmoil in the market. The current rating is "Medium."

(Chart below shows the USDC Buying Power Composite Score)


The status of USDC buying power continues to maintain a good level, which may indicate that institutional funds in the U.S. session have not shown significant exit movements. During the current adjustment phase, the pace of U.S. session funds may affect the short-term market performance.

(Chart below shows ETH Exchange Trend Net Inflow)


ETH exchanges have recently shown a significant outflow, indicating that on-chain entities may be starting to accumulate. Currently, there has been a compression in the recent amount of coins available for sale.

(Chart below shows BTC Exchange Trend Net Inflow)


BTC continues to maintain a slow accumulation pace, suggesting that on-chain entities still hold an accumulation sentiment towards BTC. With the selling pace gradually decreasing, the subsequent selling pressure on BTC may continue to reduce.

Short-Term Observations


• Derivatives Risk Index
• Options Intent-to-Trade Ratio
• Derivatives Trading Volume
• Options Implied Volatility
• Profit and Loss Transfer Amount
• New and Active Addresses
• Honey Badger Exchange Net Inflow
• Auntie Exchange Net Inflow
• High-Weighted Sell Pressure
• Global Buying Power Status
• Stablecoin Exchange Net Inflow
• Off-chain Exchange Data

Derivatives Rating: The Risk Index is in the proximity of the neutral zone, indicating moderate derivatives risk.


(Chart below shows the Derivatives Risk Index)


The Risk Index is in the neutral zone, suggesting that the current market state leans more towards an expectation of no specific trend.

(Chart below shows the Options Intent-to-Trade Ratio)


The put-to-call ratio is at a low level, with the trading volume at a moderate level.

(Chart below shows the Derivatives Trading Volume)


Derivatives trading volume is once again at a low level.

(Chart below shows the Options Implied Volatility)


Option implied volatility shows no significant volatility in the short term.

Sentiment Rating: Neutral


(Chart below: Profit/Loss Transfer)


Last week's sudden market drop triggered some panic selling (orange line), but it did not lead to sustained panic afterwards. The current market positive sentiment (blue line) is also on a continuous decline. Overall, the market seems to be more in a ranging state.

(Chart below: New Addresses and Active Addresses)


New and active addresses are at a moderate level.

Spot and Selling Pressure Structure Rating: BTC and ETH are in a state of significant outflow accumulation.

(Chart below: BTC Exchange Net Position)


BTC exchange net position continues to show significant outflow accumulation.

(Chart below: ETH Exchange Net Position)


ETH exchange net position continues to show significant outflow accumulation.

(Chart below: High Weighted Selling Pressure)


There is currently high weighted selling pressure, but it has eased somewhat.

Buy Power Rating: Global buy power is in a decreasing state, stablecoin buy power remains the same as last week.

(Chart below: Global Buy Power Status)


The current buy power is in a decreasing state.

(Chart below: USDT Exchange Net Position)


Stablecoin buy power remains the same as last week.

Off-chain Transaction Data Rating: There is buying interest at 90000; there is selling interest at 100000.

(On-chain Data from Coinbase as shown below)


There is buying interest around 90000-95000 price range; There is selling pressure around 100000-110000 price range.

(On-chain Data from Binance as shown below)


There is buying interest around 90000-95000 price range; There is selling pressure around 100000-110000 price range.

(On-chain Data from Bitfinex as shown below)


There is buying interest around 90000 price range; There is selling pressure around 110000 price range.

Weekly Summary:


Highlights:


1. The next interest rate cut and the end of balance sheet reduction are expected to take place in May-June.
2. Bitcoin's current supply is gradually decreasing, making it very scarce. If the U.S. strategic reserve decides to buy a large amount of BTC, it may trigger a 20x multiplier effect.
3. The Federal Reserve is turning dovish, Trump supports crypto, and the overall sentiment towards crypto remains optimistic this year.
4. The situation with altcoins is very different from 2016-2017 when there were just over 3000 altcoins. Now there are nearly 30,000, making it difficult for speculative capital to sustain the market value of altcoins and some specific altcoins; the future is highly uncertain.

Long-term On-chain Insights:


1. The willingness of U.S. ETF funds to buy is still present but with some minor high-selling pressure;
2. The percentage of long-term holders has dropped to 40%, signaling a need to gradually increase vigilance;
3. Large exchanges still show significant inflows, currently indicating a relative buying state;
4. Short-term speculators have increased to around $92,000, serving as a support or psychological threshold.

• Market Tone: Buying interest persists as the market gradually moves towards increased volatility and risk.

Medium-term On-chain Probe:


1. Incremental volume is relatively low, suggesting that new participants are somewhat cautious;
2. Liquidity supply has improved somewhat; there is a recent significant divergence among whale groups;
3. USDC fund sentiment remains stable;
4. ETH accumulation volume has increased recently;
5. BTC continues its slow accumulation.

• Market Sentiment:
Correction, Caution
A significant split in the recent whale community has led to an improvement in liquidity supply.

On-chain Short-term Observations:


1. The risk index is close to the neutral zone, with moderate derivative risk.
2. New active addresses are relatively low.
3. Market sentiment rating: Neutral.
4. Exchange net flows show BTC and ETH in a significant outflow accumulation state.
5. Global buying power is in a decreasing state, stablecoin buying power remains constant compared to last week.
6. Off-chain transaction data indicates buying interest at 90000; selling interest at 100000.
7. The probability of not breaking below 87000-91000 in the short term is 85%; with a 69% probability of not breaking above 110000-115000 in the short term.

• Market Sentiment:
For BTC, the market sentiment remains neutral with no panic or positive sentiment. Looking at the on-chain data, most of the on-chain chips are still in a strong hands position, with some buying power accumulating chips. Short-term market expectations suggest continued oscillation.

Risk Warning: The above is all market discussion and exploration and does not constitute investment advice; please handle with caution and guard against market black swan risks.


This article is a contribution and does not represent the views of BlockBeats.

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Is XRP a Good Investment in 2026? Why Is It Stuck at $1.45

XRP is up 6.7% this week, but exchange reserves remain high. Is a volatility spike imminent? We analyze price trend, ETF inflows, whale activity, and regulatory catalysts to answer: will XRP go up, why is XRP dropping, and is XRP a good investment right now?

TL; DR

What is XRP: XRP is a digital asset built for fast, low-cost international payments. It runs on the XRP Ledger and is used by Ripple for its On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) service. Unlike Bitcoin, XRP settles transactions in 3-5 seconds with near-zero fees.Why is XRP Dropping: XRP is not actively dropping, but it is struggling to rise. On the monthly chart, XRP has seen six consecutive months of decline. Currently, the price faces an additional supply wall at $1.45. About 1.24 billion XRP were bought in that range, and those holders sell when the price approaches, creating selling pressure that prevents a recovery.Will XRP Go Up: Potentially yes. XRP is trading near $1.43 and showing its best weekly performance since September 2025. If the price breaks above the $1.45 resistance, analysts expect a move toward $1.90, supported by strong institutional demand.Is XRP a Good Investment: The answer is not simple. Short-term traders may see opportunity in the coming volatility spike. Long-term investors face a bigger question that depends on one key regulatory event. However, the data reveals a surprising signal that most retail buyers are missing right now. To understand whether XRP is a smart buy or a trap at $1.43, you will need to read the full analysis below.What is XRP? A Digital Asset for Global Settlement

Before analyzing the charts, it is crucial to understand the asset in question. What is XRP? Unlike Bitcoin, which was designed as a decentralized digital gold, XRP operates on the XRP Ledger (XRPL). It was created to facilitate fast, low-cost international payments. Traditional bank transfers take days and incur high fees. XRP transactions settle in 3-5 seconds, costing fractions of a penny.

Ripple, the company associated with XRP, uses this asset for its "On-Demand Liquidity" (ODL) service. Banks and financial institutions use ODL to source liquidity during cross-border transactions without pre-funding accounts. This utility is the primary driver for institutional interest. Recently, the network hit a milestone of over 8 million active wallets, signaling growing usage despite recent price stagnation . Furthermore, Ripple is proactively preparing for the future, releasing a four-stage roadmap to make the XRPL "quantum-resistant," aiming to secure the ledger against future quantum computing threats by 2028 .

XRP Price Analysis: The Battle for $1.45

The XRP price trend over the last month tells a story of exhaustion followed by cautious recovery. On the monthly chart, XRP experienced six consecutive months of decline. However, April shows signs of a bottoming process. Weekly charts reinforce this view: after four weeks of lower closes, the last two weeks have seen small rebounds.

According to data from April 22, 2026, XRP is trading at approximately $1.44. Over the last seven days, XRP has outperformed both Bitcoin and Ethereum, rising 6.7% while the broader market rose only 3.2%. Spot trading volume surged 23% to $3.79 billion, and derivative markets saw $40 billion in futures volume on a single day.

Despite this, the price remains 60% below its July 2025 high of $3.65. The current technical picture shows a "low volatility grind" higher. The 20-day EMA is at $1.3924, and the 50-day EMA is at $1.4119, both acting as support . However, the immediate hurdle is the $1.45 resistance level. This price point has rejected every rally attempt in 2026.

Why is XRP Dropping? And Will XRP Go Up?

The primary reason for the recent "drop" (or lack of upward momentum) is not active selling, but rather the "supply wall." Data indicates that roughly 1.24 billion XRP tokens were purchased by investors in the $1.45 to $1.47 range. These investors have been waiting months to "break even." Every time the price approaches $1.45, these holders sell to exit their positions, creating a massive wall that retail buying cannot easily absorb.

However, the underlying momentum is shifting. Analysts suggest a xrp volatility spike imminent because the absorption capacity of buyers is increasing. Historically, when exchange reserves are high but the price refuses to drop significantly, it signals that buyers are absorbing the supply. The price has held above $1.39 despite the overhang, which is a sign of relative strength.

So, will XRP go up? Yes, potentially. But it needs a catalyst, if the price closes a daily candle above $1.45. If that happens, the next targets are $1.60 to $1.65, and eventually $1.90 .

XRP Exchange Netflow and XRP ETF Netflow: A Tale of Two Markets

The current market dynamic is best understood by looking at two opposing data streams: XRP Exchange netflow and XRP ETF flows.

Exchange Dynamics (Retail / Whales):

Data shows a complex pattern of "large inflows and increasing reserves." Recently, a Ripple-associated wallet moved 75 million XRP (approx. $108 million) to Coinbase. This initially looks like a dump, but context matters. These transfers are likely to provide liquidity for Ripple’s ODL business, not necessarily spot market selling. However, the result is that exchange reserves have climbed to 2.76 billion XRP .

The Good News: While reserves are high, the rate of increase is slowing. Specifically, "whale" transfers to exchanges have dropped 98% from their April 11 peak. The Binance reserve has slightly decreased from 27.7 to 27.6 billion. The aggressive selling from large holders appears to have stopped.

Institutional Dynamics (ETF):

While whales were sending coins to exchanges, institutions were buying XRP ETF products. XRP ETF net flow is strongly positive.

US-listed XRP ETFs recorded four consecutive days of inflows totaling $38.86 million recently .The weekly inflow for mid-April hit $119.6 million, a multi-month high .Cumulative net inflows stand at $12.8 billion, with Assets Under Management (AUM) at roughly $10.8 billion.Analyzing the Divergence: Why Both Flows Are Positive

It seems contradictory that exchange reserves are high (suggesting selling) while ETFs are buying (suggesting buying). However, this phenomenon reveals the current market structure.

Different Investor Profiles: The exchange inflows likely come from short-term traders, market makers, or Ripple itself providing ODL liquidity. These are "hot" coins ready to be sold. The ETF inflows represent "sticky" capital. Institutions buying ETFs are typically long-term holders (LTHs) or asset managers who do not day-trade. They are removing liquidity from the spot market by buying through custodians.The "De-risking" Trade: Sophisticated funds might be engaging in basis trading. They buy the ETF (taking a long position) while simultaneously shorting XRP futures or selling spot inventory to capture the funding rate. This keeps the price stable while volume increases.Absorption: The most likely scenario is that the market is simply absorbing the excess supply. The fact that the price is stable ($1.43) and not collapsing to $1.20 despite 2.76 billion coins sitting on exchanges is a massive win for the bulls. The ETF inflows are acting as a sponge, soaking up the selling pressure from the ODL wallets.The Regulatory Catalyst: The SEC and the CLARITY Act

Fundamentally, the recent price action cannot be separated from regulation. For years, the primary answer was the SEC lawsuit. That narrative is dying.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse recently praised SEC Chair Paul Atkins as "a breath of fresh air and sanity" . This regulatory thaw is critical. The SEC is reportedly considering dropping the long-standing lawsuit, and five XRP ETF applications are awaiting review.

The major catalyst on the horizon is the CLARITY Act. A Senate markup is expected before the end of April. Standard Chartered analysts project that if the bill advances, it could unlock $4 to $8 billion in institutional flows . Polymarket gives the bill a 60-66% chance of passing in 2026. If the CLARITY Act classifies XRP as a non-security (commodity), the institutional floodgates will open, likely overwhelming the $1.45 supply wall instantly.

Is XRP a Good Investment in 2026?

Given all this data, is XRP a good investment? The answer depends entirely on your risk tolerance and time horizon.

The Bull Case (Why it is a good investment): The risk/reward ratio is asymmetrical to the upside. The price is near multi-year lows relative to its utility. Whale selling has stopped, ETF demand is rising, and the network is expanding (8 million wallets, quantum resistance roadmap). If the CLARITY Act passes, XRP could realistically trade between $1.60 and $1.80 in the short term, with a potential run to $3.00+ if the lawsuit is officially dropped.The Risk Case (Why it is NOT a good investment): There is a clear resistance wall at $1.45. If the CLARITY Act fails or is delayed past May (due to midterm election dynamics), the "buy the rumor, sell the news" dynamic could reverse. If the price fails to break $1.45 and loses support at $1.33, a drop back to $1.15 is technically possible .

Verdict: XRP is a speculative buy for traders looking for a volatility spike. It is a hold for current investors. For new investors, it is only a good investment if you believe in regulatory clarity within the next 30 days. Technically, waiting for a confirmed break above $1.55 (to avoid the fakeout) is safer than buying at $1.43.

FAQ

Q: Will XRP go up if the CLARITY Act passes?

A: Yes, historically. Analysts predict that if the CLARITY Act passes, signaling that XRP is a commodity, it would remove the regulatory overhang. This could trigger a surge in institutional buying, pushing the price from the current $1.43 range to test the $1.80 - $2.00 resistance levels quickly.

Q: Why is XRP dropping when Bitcoin is going up?

A: XRP has specific supply dynamics. Unlike Bitcoin, which has a fixed supply issuance, XRP faces periodic sell-pressure from Ripple's treasury wallets used to fund ODL (liquidity) services. Additionally, the $1.45 "break-even" wall causes XRP to drop relative to BTC when short-term traders exit.

Q: Is a volatility spike imminent for XRP?

A: Yes. The Bollinger Bands on the daily chart are squeezing. The price is stuck between support at $1.33 and resistance at $1.45. Historically, when XRP volume surges 23% in a week (as it did on April 21), it precedes a violent move. The direction depends on whether the $1.45 resistance breaks.

Q: What is the XRP ETF netflow status?

A: As of late April 2026, XRP ETFs are seeing positive netflows. The US ETFs recorded a single week inflow of $119.6 million in mid-April. Cumulative inflows are strong at $12.8 billion, indicating that institutions are accumulating during this dip, which is a long-term bullish signal for price stabilization.

Q: Is XRP a good investment for beginners?

A: XRP is less volatile than "meme coins" but more volatile than Bitcoin. For beginners, it is a moderate-risk investment. Its value is tied to real utility (bank payments). However, beginners should wait to see if the price can close a weekly candle above $1.55 before entering, to avoid buying into the current resistance wall.

Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes, or is intended to constitute, investment advice. Trading cryptocurrencies carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Always do your own research.

About WEEX

Founded in 2018, WEEX has developed into a global crypto exchange with over 6.2 million users across more than 150 countries. The platform emphasizes security, liquidity, and usability, providing over 1,200 spot trading pairs and offering up to 400x leverage in crypto futures trading. In addition to the traditional spot and derivatives markets, WEEX is expanding rapidly in the AI era — delivering real-time AI news, empowering users with AI trading tools, and exploring innovative trade-to-earn models that make intelligent trading more accessible to everyone. Its 1,000 BTC Protection Fund further strengthens asset safety and transparency, while features such as copy trading and advanced trading tools allow users to follow professional traders and experience a more efficient, intelligent trading journey.

Follow WEEX on social media

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