This week, whales made significant moves across various altcoins as market sentiment shifted and macroeconomic developments unfolded. Notable activities include heavy selling pressure on Cardano, smaller buying trends, a massive Solana transfer linked to ETF launches, and aggressive XRP buying, among other significant transactions.
These actions by major altcoin holders can either reduce market supply or flood exchanges, potentially causing short-term price fluctuations and influencing the overall cryptocurrency market rally.
Smaller altcoins such as Kaspa and Aster also experienced substantial whale accumulation. These moves typically support price gains by removing supply from the market, indicating that large investors are positioning themselves for the next upward trend.
Cardano (ADA): Mixed Whale Activity
Cardano saw a combination of buying and selling activity from whales this week. Smaller whale wallets reportedly acquired approximately 20 million ADA, valued at $12.8 million, near the $0.64 support level, suggesting an accumulation strategy at current prices.
However, in the subsequent days, larger whales engaged in significant selling. An on-chain analyst reported that whales offloaded 100 million ADA, worth $65 million, within a 72-hour period. This substantial sell-off generated short-term downward pressure on ADA, pulling its price back to $0.63.
The contrast between smaller whales buying and larger whales selling presents a mixed picture. While the smaller accumulations provided some demand, the significant sell-off introduced volatility. Overall, Cardano remained relatively flat for the week, supported primarily by the buying demand from smaller whale entities.
Solana (SOL): Whale Prepares for ETF Demand
A substantial Solana whale transaction involving 200,000 SOL, valued at approximately $40 million, was reportedly moved to Coinbase Prime. This marks the first time in five years that this long-term holder has accessed their Solana holdings. The whale originally received 222,000 SOL from the Solana team in 2020.
This transfer occurred shortly after the launch of Solana spot Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), including Bitwise’s BSOL on October 28 and Grayscale’s GSOL on October 29. Analysts speculate that the whale may be positioning itself to capitalize on or supply these new institutional investment channels.
Despite this significant on-chain transfer, Solana's price remained largely stable, trading flat by the end of the week. This suggests that the market absorbed the potential sell pressure. The whale's move is widely interpreted as a bullish signal, indicating strong underlying demand and potentially new institutional inflows that generally support the crypto rally by connecting Solana's liquidity to institutional vehicles.
However, whale movements can influence prices. A future sale of the 200,000 SOL, or further accumulation, could impact $SOL's short-term price trend.
XRP: Big Whale Buying
XRP experienced one of the most significant whale accumulations of the year. On-chain data from Santiment indicates that whales purchased over $560 million worth of XRP in the past week.
This represents one of the most aggressive buying periods by XRP whales in recent months. Consequently, XRP's trading volume surged by approximately 26%, while XRP holdings on exchanges decreased by 3.36%, a classic indicator that whales are withdrawing coins from exchanges for long-term holding.
This dual effect of rising demand and tightening supply appears to be creating a favorable outlook for XRP. Analysts suggest that such aggressive accumulation by whales often precedes significant price movements.
The on-chain metrics suggest that if current momentum persists, $XRP could be poised for a breakout. In essence, the $560 million whale buying spree signals increased confidence in XRP and potentially more upward price pressure, provided the broader cryptocurrency market maintains stable momentum.
Chainlink and Aster: Bullish Whale Demand
Chainlink (LINK) has witnessed notable whale demand. Since mid-October, 9.94 million LINK, valued at $188 million, have been acquired by 39 new whale wallets. More recently, one whale was observed purchasing $9 million in LINK. This significant accumulation, following a recent dip in $LINK's price, suggests that large investors are betting on an upcoming rally.
Analysts anticipate that these accumulated $LINK positions will provide support for a new upward price movement once market sentiment turns bullish.
Aster (ASTER), a mid-cap utility token, has also attracted whale interest. Whales reportedly purchased 3.27 million ASTER, worth $3.3 million, following news of a Federal Reserve rate cut. Additionally, one whale acquired another 8.06 million ASTER, valued at $9.14 million. In total, whales added 11.3 million ASTER, or $12.5 million, in late October.
These purchases have contributed to Aster's price stability and suggest that these investors are expecting a market turnaround. In both $LINK and $ASTER, the coordinated buying activity by whales has reduced available supply and signaled bullish market setups.
Smaller Altcoins
Beyond the major cryptocurrencies, whales have also targeted smaller altcoins. One notable example is Kaspa (KAS). CryptoQuant data indicated whale accumulation occurring around the $0.06 price level for KAS. Large investors were observed buying at this price point, reinforcing a recent price bounce.
This accumulation has helped KAS perform strongly against the broader market trend, suggesting increased confidence in Kaspa from major holders. Other niche cryptocurrencies have also seen whale interest. Whales holding between 10 million and 100 million VIRTUAL tokens reportedly increased their positions.
World Liberty Financial (WLFI) experienced an 18.8% increase in whale holdings, reaching 12.13 million tokens (approximately $1.6 million) prior to political events.
These smaller-scale transactions demonstrate that whales are actively participating in the market, selectively accumulating even low-cap altcoins that they believe have potential catalysts for growth.
Summary Table for This Week’s Top Altcoin Whales Activities
The following table summarizes the significant whale activities observed this week and their potential impact on price action.
| Altcoin | Whale Move (Oct 26-30) | Notes / Impact |
| Cardano (ADA) | +20M, -100M ADA | Smaller ADA whales added 20 million ADA, but larger holders dumped 100 million ADA ($65 million), causing short-term selling pressure. |
| Solana (SOL) | -200,000 SOL | A long-term SOL whale transferred 200,000 SOL ($40 million) to Coinbase Prime amidst Solana ETF launches. |
| XRP (XRP) | +$560M (total) | Whale addresses bought $560 million worth of XRP in a week. Exchange reserves fell by 3.4%, a classic accumulation sign pointing to bullish momentum. |
| Chainlink (LINK) | +9.94M LINK ($188M) | 39 whale wallets acquired 9.94 million LINK ($188 million) since October 10; another $9 million buy was flagged, showing strong demand from large holders. |
| Aster (ASTER) | +11.33M ASTER ($12.5M) | Whales boosted ASTER positions: 3.27 million ASTER ($3.3 million) after Fed news and 8.06 million ASTER ($9.14 million), betting on a rebound. |
| Kaspa (KAS) | Accumulation | KAS saw gains as whales built positions around $0.06. CryptoQuant shows large orders near $0.06, suggesting renewed confidence. |
Impact on Crypto Market and Rally
These significant altcoin whale activities are closely linked to the current cryptocurrency market rally. When major holders accumulate altcoins, they reduce supply available on exchanges and can often ignite or sustain upward price trends. Conversely, when whales sell, as seen with Cardano, they can trigger market corrections.
This week's pattern, characterized predominantly by whale buying, aligns with the broader market optimism. Traders are closely watching Federal Reserve rate cuts and the ongoing narrative surrounding Bitcoin and ETF approvals, with whales actively positioning themselves in anticipation of these developments.
In practical terms, the net effect of these whale movements has been positive. The total cryptocurrency market capitalization has increased as whales have channeled capital and confidence into notable altcoins. The surge in XRP's trading volume and Solana's price resilience despite large transfers at the time are indicative of whales supporting prices.
If whales continue their buying and holding strategies, it could lead to a sustained market rally. However, sudden selling by whales, similar to the Cardano dump, could introduce volatility. Overall, the significant whale activities observed across many altcoins this week have supported the prevailing market sentiment by increasing demand and reducing sell pressure at critical junctures.
Conclusion
There appears to be significant activity brewing within the cryptocurrency market. Top altcoin whales are once again making substantial moves, shifting hundreds of millions in assets across XRP, Solana, and Chainlink, while also accumulating smaller assets like Kaspa and Aster.
With the backdrop of ETF news, potential Federal Reserve rate cuts, and institutional interest shaping market sentiment, these large-scale financial movements could signal upcoming trends for altcoins as the year progresses.
The dominant trend in top altcoin whale activities observed in late October has been largely bullish. Major holders have been actively purchasing key altcoins such as XRP, LINK, and ASTER, particularly following recent price dips or positive news developments. XRP whales notably bought $560 million this week, while a Solana whale transferred 200,000 SOL to Coinbase shortly after the launch of new SOL ETFs, indicating strong institutional demand.
Even smaller digital assets have seen multi-million dollar whale acquisitions. Cardano experienced a mixed week, with both whale buying and a significant sell-off occurring.
In summary, these top altcoin whale activities have provided support to the recent crypto market rally by boosting demand and mitigating sell pressure at various points.
Glossary
Whale: A cryptocurrency investor possessing very large holdings, often valued in the millions of dollars. Their trading activities can significantly influence market prices.
Altcoin: Any cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin. Examples include Solana, ADA, and many others.
Accumulation: The process of buying and holding an asset over time. Whale accumulation signifies that large investors are actively purchasing coins.
Exchange Reserves: The total amount of a specific cryptocurrency held on centralized exchanges. Declining reserves often suggest buying and holding behavior (bullish), while increasing reserves can indicate selling pressure (bearish).
ETF: Exchange-Traded Fund. The recent launch of spot ETFs for cryptocurrencies like Solana has opened new avenues for institutional investment. Whale activity is frequently correlated with these financial products.
Frequently Asked Questions About Top Altcoin Whale Activities This Week
Why do whale activities matter?
Whales control a substantial portion of many cryptocurrencies, meaning their buying actions can reduce market supply (often bullish), and their selling can flood exchanges (often bearish). Analysts closely monitor whale wallets to gauge sentiment among large investors and anticipate potential price movements.
Which altcoins had the biggest whale moves this week?
Significant whale activity was observed in XRP, where whales bought $560 million; Solana, with a whale moving 200,000 SOL to an exchange; Cardano, where smaller whales bought 20 million ADA while larger whales sold 100 million; and Chainlink, with whales acquiring 9.94 million LINK. Smaller tokens like Aster and Kaspa also experienced substantial whale accumulation.
How do the altcoin whale transactions impact prices?
Large whale purchases tend to remove supply from the market, potentially triggering rallies as other investors follow suit. Conversely, significant whale sell-offs can lead to rapid price declines.
What does falling exchange reserves (like XRP’s) mean?
A decrease in exchange reserves indicates that whales are moving their cryptocurrency holdings from exchanges to private wallets. This action reduces the immediate sell pressure and is often seen as a precursor to potential price increases.