Billions in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP Hit Exchanges Amid Trump’s Reserve Plans

Traders and funds shifted massive amounts of crypto, likely signaling profit-taking.

Large inflows of Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and XRP flooded exchanges shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to incorporate these assets into a U.S. crypto strategic reserve. This sudden movement suggests that some investors may have taken advantage of the initial price surge to lock in gains, contributing to the subsequent pullback.

Typically, major token holders store assets in cold wallets for security, only transferring them to exchanges when preparing to sell. CryptoQuant data revealed that XRP exchange inflows spiked to 193 million per hour following Trump’s announcement, largely driven by whale transactions exceeding 1 million XRP each.

Bitcoin also saw a significant rise in inflows, jumping from 500–1,000 BTC per hour to a peak of 6,739 BTC the day after the announcement. Meanwhile, Ethereum inflows surged to nearly 300,000 ETH within an hour, indicating heightened selling activity.

According to CryptoQuant analysts, the rapid price fluctuations on Monday and Tuesday signal that actual spot demand remains weak, limiting the sustainability of any rally.

“Bitcoin’s demand growth, which accelerated in late 2024 due to the U.S. election results, has now entered contraction territory for the first time since September 2024,” analysts explained. “Without a resurgence in demand, maintaining upward momentum in crypto prices will be difficult.”

The apparent demand metric, which tracks Bitcoin’s supply dynamics by measuring the movement of long-dormant coins versus new supply, shows a continued slowdown. CoinDesk previously reported that retail accumulation has been declining since early November, adding further pressure to the market.