Do altcoin whales move markets as much as Bitcoin whales? In 2025, the answer is clear: yes. Solana, Ethereum, and XRP each saw multi-million-dollar whale transfers this year that shifted liquidity in hours. For altcoins, where trading volume is thinner and holdings more concentrated, a single whale can move prices faster than most traders expect.
This article explores why whale tracking matters for altcoins, highlights recent examples, and points to the tools traders are using to keep up.
Why Altcoin Whales Matter
Unlike Bitcoin, altcoins such as SOL, ETH, and XRP are more exposed to large wallets. A single $20–50M transfer can equal 10–20% of daily volume. That means whale movements aren’t just interesting headlines — they can act as early volatility signals for traders.
Whale Highlights from 2025
Solana (SOL)
In September 2025, one whale withdrew 101,824 SOL (~$22.5M) from Binance into four fresh wallets. These kinds of withdrawals often signal accumulation or private deals — and traders noticed intraday momentum soon after.
Ethereum (ETH)
In July 2025, a whale shifted 50,000 ETH (~$90M) from an exchange into cold storage ahead of the Dencun upgrade. Large exchange outflows like this are often read as accumulation signals.
XRP
Whale activity around XRP has often coincided with SEC case developments and liquidity events. Large wallets frequently re-emerge during regulatory news, adding sudden pressure to volumes.
(Full breakdown of SOL, ETH, and XRP whale moves — with dates, values, and outcomes — is in the complete guide below.)
How Traders Track Altcoin Whales
You don’t need insider access — whale data is public. The key is knowing which tools to trust:
Solscan, Etherscan, XRPSCAN → raw transfers from top wallets.Whale Alert, Lookonchain → real-time alerts on big transactions.Glassnode, CryptoQuant, Santiment → dashboards for whale balances, inflows/outflows, and staking data.TokenUnlocks, CryptoRank → unlock calendars that warn of upcoming whale supply events.
Signals Worth Watching
Not every alert matters. Traders should filter for repeatable patterns:
Consistent inflows over several days → potential sell pressure.Large outflows into cold wallets → accumulation.Dormant wallets activating → often tied to news or liquidity events.Multiple whales moving the same way → stronger signal than a single address.
Risks & Caveats
Whale moves are powerful indicators, but not perfect:
Transfers can be custodial reshuffles, not trades.Some whale alerts overstate impact without liquidity context.Even whales misstep — not every big move ends in profit.
Traders should treat whale tracking as confirmation, not prediction.
Conclusion
Altcoin whales don’t get the same spotlight as Bitcoin whales, but their impact is undeniable. Watching their wallets is about risk management, not hype. By combining on-chain explorers, analytics platforms, and unlock trackers, traders can anticipate liquidity shocks before they hit the charts.
For the full data-backed breakdown (with charts, visuals, and detailed case studies of SOL, ETH, and XRP), read the complete guide here: https://bitcoinworld.news/article/altcoin-whale-tracking-sol-eth-xrp
Altcoin Whales in 2025: How SOL, ETH & XRP Big Wallets Move Markets was originally published in Coinmonks on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.