XRP Value Held Down by ‘Dark Pools,’ According to Crypto Expert

The recent stagnation in XRP’s market price may be attributed less to diminishing investor interest and more to a spike in off-market trading, according to cryptocurrency analyst Jake Claver, who is the managing director at Digital Ascension Group. In a 23-post discussion on X, he claimed that “dark pools are an unseen force … stabilizing prices,” even as institutional interest continues to rise.

Claver’s discussion—viewed over 250,000 times within two days—suggests that these private trading venues are absorbing substantial buy orders that would otherwise elevate the public order book. “What is a dark pool? Imagine trying to purchase $500 million worth of XRP without alerting the market,” he explained. “Dark pools are private locations where large transactions are executed away from the main exchanges.”

XRP Price Manipulation?

The commentator referred to this dynamic as a “double-edged sword.” He believes that, in the short term, under-the-radar accumulation “conceals bullish trends and suppresses prices,” leading retail investors to think the asset is losing momentum. However, over time, this method supposedly restricts available supply until, as he cautioned, “the dam bursts.”

Further Insights

“Institutions are quietly withdrawing liquidity from public exchanges,” Claver noted, highlighting that hedge funds, family offices, and even government entities have started utilizing dark-pool services now provided by major exchanges like Coinbase and Kraken, as well as new decentralized options. He explained, since transactions are disclosed only post-transaction, “smart money leaves no trace.”

Claver proposed that XRP stands to gain significantly from this hidden activity. He believes that upcoming regulatory clarifications and institutional adoption could align with a dwindling supply, resulting in a sudden price revaluation. “At some point, demand on public exchanges will surge beyond available supply — and that’s when the market will scramble to adjust. Prepare for a potential doubling, tripling, or even fivefold increase,” he stated. If the unseen buying pressure depletes existing inventory, “the price will surge sharply … charts will resemble a flipped switch.”

Further Insights

He emphasized the psychological aspect of an extended period of flat prices: “These are the times when even the most committed supporters begin to have doubts and may exit. But if you can hold on, you might witness what unfolds next.” Comparing dark-pool trading to a “pressure cooker,” Claver remarked, “They contain all that purchase pressure now, but eventually, the lid will blow off.” In closing, he urged for patience: “Stay the course. When the dam breaks, you’ll appreciate having purchased at 50 cents rather than rushing to buy at $10.”

Is There Evidence?

Market trends do suggest a lack of volatility in XRP, which has remained within a narrow range around $2.00 for much of April, despite several positive developments and news out of Ripple. Whether dark-pool trading is the primary factor, however, is still unconfirmed; most over-the-counter (OTC) transactions are reported only as totals, and no public record tracks the large institutional flows Claver refers to.

Claver presented no empirical proof for the purported volume of purchases, and his analysis does not quantify the transactions. Regardless, his commentary reinforces a common narrative in the cryptocurrency sphere: that apparent price stability may mask significant accumulation beneath the surface. For retail investors, the question remains whether these hidden trends will materialize as the “sharp” movement Claver forecasts—or remain hidden like most dark-pool transactions, perpetually out of sight.

At the time of writing, XRP was priced at $2.21.

Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com