Big money is moving right now. While retail traders sat on the sidelines during late November’s choppy action, crypto whales quietly accumulated three specific tokens.
These aren’t random buys. The accumulation happened during price stability, not panic. That timing matters because whales don’t chase rallies. They build positions before breakouts happen.
Let’s look at exactly what they bought and why December could deliver the payoff they’re positioning for.
Ethena Whales Added 1.1 Million Tokens During Strength
Ethena (ENA) surged 21% over the past week. Most traders would take profit after a move like that. Whales did the opposite.
Large holders increased their ENA positions by 2.84% this week. That translates to roughly 1.1 million additional tokens. Plus, the top 100 mega whale addresses added another 50 million ENA, raising their holdings by 0.35%.
Buying into strength signals something important. Whales expect more upside ahead. They’re not worried about a pullback erasing gains.
The technical setup backs this confidence. ENA trades inside a symmetrical triangle on the 12-hour chart. The critical resistance sits at $0.28. Every rally attempt since November 25 died at this level.
But if ENA closes above $0.28 on the daily timeframe, momentum shifts. The next targets are $0.30, then $0.32. That’s the move whales are positioning for.
However, losing $0.27 support breaks the pattern. ENA could slide back toward $0.21 if whale demand dries up. The accumulation data suggests that’s unlikely right now.
XRP Whales Deployed $2.4 Billion in Fresh Capital
XRP shows the most aggressive whale buying of the three tokens. Two major cohorts drove this accumulation wave.
Wallets holding over 1 billion XRP added 150 million tokens since November 25. At current prices near $2.20, that equals roughly $330 million in new exposure.
The 10-100 million cohort went even harder. These whales accumulated 970 million XRP since November 23. That represents approximately $2.13 billion worth of tokens at today’s price.
Combined, whales deployed $2.4 billion into XRP during the final week of November. This happened while XRP gained 16%, which means they bought into strength, not weakness.
The technical picture supports more upside. XRP defended $1.77 support twice — on October 10 and again in late November. That double-bottom base formed over two months. It’s solid ground for a December rally.
For bulls to take control, XRP must break above $2.30. This resistance rejected every rally attempt since November 15. A clean daily close above that level opens the path to $2.45, then $2.61.
Downside risk exists if XRP drops below $2.11. That break would invalidate the bullish structure and could send prices back toward $1.81. But current whale behavior suggests they’re betting against that scenario.
Cardano Whales Reversed Course with 280 Million ADA
Cardano (ADA) rounds out the list as whales rotate back into large-cap tokens after XRP.
Two key holder groups started buying in the final week of November. Wallets with over 1 billion ADA began accumulating on November 24. They’ve added 130 million ADA since then.
The 10-100 million cohort joined on November 26, picking up 150 million ADA. Both groups flipped net positive within days. That quick shift shows fresh conviction, especially since ADA trades near recent lows around $0.41.
The 5% weekly gain seems modest compared to Ethena or XRP. But the whale accumulation pattern matters more than short-term price action.
Technically, ADA displays a bullish divergence on the 12-hour chart. Between November 4 and November 21, price made a lower low. Meanwhile, the RSI momentum indicator made a higher low. This divergence often precedes trend reversals.
Early signs of that reversal are appearing. But ADA needs a solid daily close above $0.43 to confirm the shift. Breaking above that resistance opens $0.52 as the next target, flipping the short-term structure bullish.
Losing $0.38 support undermines the setup. The bullish divergence would fail, and December gains become less likely.
The Pattern Behind the Picks
These three tokens share something important. Whales didn’t buy during panic or deep corrections. They accumulated during consolidation and early strength.
That timing separates informed buying from emotional reactions. Whales position ahead of moves, not during them.
Ethena offers the highest risk-reward because of its smaller market cap. A breakout above $0.28 could trigger fast gains toward $0.32 or higher. But the volatility cuts both ways.
XRP represents the safest play with the most capital backing it. Nearly $2.4 billion in fresh whale exposure provides a strong foundation. The double-bottom structure adds technical confirmation.
Cardano sits in the middle. It’s less volatile than Ethena but offers more upside potential than XRP if the bullish divergence confirms. The $0.43 breakout level is key.
What This Means for December
Whale accumulation doesn’t guarantee gains. But it shifts probabilities. When billions of dollars move into specific tokens during consolidation, those assets typically deliver when volatility returns.
December could bring that volatility. Year-end often triggers big moves as institutional players rebalance portfolios and retail FOMO kicks in.
Watch the breakout levels. Ethena at $0.28. XRP at $2.30. Cardano at $0.43. Whales are betting these resistances break.
If they do, momentum should carry prices higher fast. If not, whale demand could fade, and these setups fall apart.
Right now, the smart money is positioning for the breakout scenario. December could prove whether they called it right.