Whale investors—those with significant capital—are quietly reshaping the crypto landscape in early 2025. Their strategic moves in January signal strong conviction in select altcoins poised for potential growth in February. While retail traders often react to price swings, whales anticipate trends, leveraging market dips to accumulate high-potential assets. This article explores three altcoins drawing intense whale interest: Ondo (ONDO), Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL), and LayerZero (ZRO)—each representing key narratives in decentralized finance, artificial intelligence, and cross-chain interoperability.
Ondo (ONDO): Real-World Assets Take Center Stage
Ondo Finance has emerged as a dominant player in the Real-World Assets (RWA) sector, a fast-growing segment bridging traditional finance with blockchain technology. ONDO’s market capitalization recently crossed $5 billion, reflecting a 17% gain over the past month amid rising institutional interest.
Whale accumulation has been particularly aggressive. Data from on-chain analytics platform Santiment reveals a surge in large holdings:
- Addresses holding 10,000–100,000 ONDO rose from 1,727 to 2,221.
- Those with 100,000–1,000,000 ONDO increased from 289 to 332.
- The largest tier—1,000,000–10,000,000 ONDO—grew from 139 to 175.
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This coordinated buying suggests whales are positioning ahead of broader market recognition. With financial giants like BlackRock and Morgan Stanley exploring tokenized assets, ONDO stands to benefit as a first-mover in regulated, transparent on-chain treasury funds. As more real-world assets—from bonds to real estate—are digitized, ONDO’s infrastructure could become foundational.
The growing number of large holders indicates not just speculation, but long-term confidence in the project’s utility and compliance framework. February may mark the beginning of a breakout phase as retail investors catch up with institutional momentum.
Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL): AI Agents Stage a Comeback?
Despite a 40% correction over the past 30 days, Virtuals Protocol remains one of the most talked-about projects in the crypto AI space. Focused on autonomous AI agents operating on-chain, VIRTUAL taps into a futuristic vision where software bots execute trades, manage portfolios, and interact with DeFi protocols independently.
While the broader AI coin sector cooled off after a hot 2024, whale activity tells a different story. Over the past week, addresses holding at least 100,000 VIRTUAL have steadily increased—indicating accumulation during weakness.
With a current market cap of $1.5 billion, VIRTUAL still ranks among the largest AI-focused cryptocurrencies. The recent pullback may have created a strategic entry point for whales betting on a resurgence of AI-driven narratives in February.
Key factors that could reignite interest:
- Advancements in on-chain AI agent functionality.
- Integration with high-performance blockchains like Solana.
- Renewed venture capital interest in AI-infused Web3 applications.
If market sentiment shifts back toward innovation-driven projects, VIRTUAL’s strong fundamentals and early-mover advantage could power a strong recovery.
👉 See how AI-powered crypto projects are redefining digital ownership and automation.
LayerZero (ZRO): Legal Clarity Sparks Whale Confidence
LayerZero, once one of the most hyped projects in crypto, faced headwinds after a prolonged legal dispute with FTX. However, the resolution of this lawsuit has changed the narrative overnight.
ZRO dropped nearly 23% over the past month but rebounded 5% in 24 hours following the official settlement announcement. More importantly, whales didn’t wait for the news—they’ve been accumulating all month.
On-chain data shows that between December 29, 2024, and January 30, 2025, the number of addresses holding 100,000–1,000,000 ZRO climbed from 84 to 113—a 34% increase in just one month.
This steady accumulation suggests that informed investors saw the lawsuit as a temporary overhang rather than a fundamental flaw. With legal uncertainty removed, LayerZero can refocus on its core mission: enabling seamless communication across blockchains.
As cross-chain interoperability becomes increasingly critical in a multi-chain world, ZRO’s technology remains highly relevant. Protocols built on LayerZero—spanning DeFi, gaming, and identity—are likely to gain traction once confidence returns.
February could mark the start of a recovery phase, driven by both technical improvements and renewed investor trust.
Why Whale Activity Matters
Crypto whales often have access to deeper research, early information, and sophisticated analytics tools. While they’re not infallible, sustained accumulation by large holders typically reflects confidence in a project’s long-term viability.
Unlike short-term traders who chase pumps, whales buy during periods of fear and uncertainty—exactly what we’re seeing with ONDO, VIRTUAL, and ZRO.
Their behavior doesn’t guarantee price increases, but it does provide valuable insight into where smart money is flowing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What defines a "crypto whale"?
A: A crypto whale is an individual or entity holding a large amount of cryptocurrency—typically enough to influence market prices through their trading activity. In this context, we refer to wallets holding thousands or millions of a specific token.
Q: Why should I care about whale activity?
A: Whale movements often precede major price shifts. When large investors accumulate a token quietly, it can signal upcoming demand. Monitoring these trends helps identify potential opportunities before broader market awareness.
Q: Is buying what whales buy a safe strategy?
A: Not necessarily. While whale behavior offers insights, it doesn’t replace due diligence. Always research the project’s fundamentals, team, roadmap, and risks before investing.
Q: How reliable is on-chain data for tracking whales?
A: On-chain data is highly transparent and verifiable. Platforms like Santiment and Nansen provide accurate metrics on wallet balances and transaction patterns—making it one of the most trustworthy sources in crypto analysis.
Q: Could these tokens still drop in price despite whale buying?
A: Yes. Whale accumulation improves odds of recovery but doesn’t eliminate risk. Macro conditions, regulatory news, or project setbacks can still cause declines. Diversification and risk management remain essential.
Q: What’s the connection between RWA and institutional adoption?
A: Real-World Assets (RWA) represent tokenized versions of traditional assets like bonds or real estate. Institutions favor RWAs because they offer yield-generating opportunities within regulated frameworks—making projects like ONDO particularly attractive.
As February 2025 approaches, the actions of crypto whales suggest a shift toward infrastructure-focused, narrative-driven, and institutionally viable projects. Whether it’s ONDO’s RWA leadership, VIRTUAL’s AI innovation, or ZRO’s cross-chain utility—the common thread is long-term value creation.
👉 Track real-time whale movements and uncover hidden market signals before they go mainstream.
While short-term volatility will persist, those who understand where smart money is flowing may be best positioned for the next phase of crypto growth.