XRP Holders Pull Coins From Exchanges as XRP ETF Inflows Top $1.2B

XRP is trading at $1.29 as of writing, down 10% in the last seven days and 31% in the last 30 days. At the same time, it remains 67% below its all-time high of $3.92. Despite the recent pullback, long-term conviction still appears intact.

In early 2026, XRP holders are increasingly shifting assets from centralized exchanges to self-custody solutions. The move comes as spot XRP ETFs continue attracting massive institutional inflows, fueling a growing “supply shock” narrative.

Investors are looking to secure long-term holdings, and hardware wallets such as the Ledger Nano X appear to be seeing interest. Powered by a Secure Element chip and Ledger OS, the device keeps private keys offline. Paired with the Ledger Wallet app, users can manage XRP and other digital assets securely on the go. 

At the same time, Ledger is currently offering $10 in free BTC with qualifying purchases, a promotion that has further boosted attention among retail buyers exploring secure storage options.

Record XRP ETF Inflows are Shaping Market Structure

Since launching in late 2025, U.S. spot XRP ETFs have become some of the fastest-growing crypto investment products. As of Feb 27, cumulative net inflows surpassed $1.24 billion, with total assets under management (AUM) exceeding $1 billion at some point. Even more striking, these ETFs recorded over 40 consecutive days of positive net inflows to start the year.

Source: SosoValue

Unlike Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, which experienced intermittent outflows, XRP funds have shown consistent demand. And that steady institutional buying has tightened circulating supply on exchanges.

Is this the beginning of a longer-term liquidity squeeze? Or simply a temporary imbalance driven by speculative positioning?

On-Chain Data Shows Long-Term Confidence

Recent data indicates XRP now has 7.6 million holders globally. On-chain metrics reveal that long-term holders have increased positions during the bearish market, while short-term speculators have largely exited. Perpetual futures leverage remains balanced, reducing liquidation risk during sharp price swings.

Institutional inflows have remained steady throughout the correction, suggesting strategic accumulation rather than panic-driven volatility.

At the same time, XRP holders are exploring new yield opportunities. Through Flare Networks, users can access cross-chain yield in FXRP. Multi-strategy vaults combine lending, decentralized exchange liquidity provision, and staking into a single deposit. This structure expands DeFi exposure while maintaining XRP-linked positioning.

Self-Custody Trend Gains Momentum

With ETFs absorbing supply and DeFi integrations expanding, many XRP holders appear focused on long-term strategy rather than short-term trading. And that shift is what often brings new interest in hardware wallets and cold storage options.

Should investors keep assets on exchanges during heightened volatility? Or does long-term conviction call for greater control over private keys? XRP navigates ETF-driven demand and evolving market structure, and storage decisions may become as important as price action itself.