Ripple Unlocks Billions in XRP – What's Going On Behind the Scenes?

Ripple just unlocked 1 billion XRP from escrow in a matter of minutes. The total value is over $2.2 billion. Whale Alert tracked the transactions

In a rapid series of transactions, Ripple just unlocked 1 billion XRP from escrow, as tracked by Whale Alert. The total value of the tokens is over $2.2 billion.

One portion of 500 million XRP came directly from Ripple, while another 500 million was released from two unknown wallets.

This activity sparked discussion within the crypto community, especially considering the timing and scale.

Just the day before, Ripple had locked 1.5 billion XRP into escrow, a move that was widely reported. It gave the impression that the company was trying to limit supply and show confidence in XRP’s long-term value. Now, less than 24 hours later, even more XRP is being released.

This could be part of Ripple’s regular monthly routine. On the first of each month, Ripple usually unlocks 1 billion XRP from escrow. It’s a system they’ve used for years to handle liquidity, partnerships, and operational needs. Usually, a portion of that XRP gets relocked, and the rest may be sold or distributed.

However, the speed and structure of this latest round are different. The unlocked XRP came in three chunks: one from Ripple, and two from wallets that aren’t clearly identified.

This has brought up new questions about whether this is just business as usual – or something more strategic.

With talk heating up about an XRP ETF and Ripple’s expanding role in central bank digital currency projects, the company might be preparing to inject XRP into new initiatives.

Unlocking this much could also mean Ripple wants flexibility in how it moves forward, especially if institutional interest continues to grow. It’s important to note that just because XRP is unlocked doesn’t mean it’s going straight to exchanges.

Ripple has often used over-the-counter deals to distribute tokens quietly. That way, they avoid flooding the market and causing sudden price drops.

Right now, XRP is trading in a tight range between $2.15 and $2.30. The market hasn’t reacted much yet, but that could change fast if Ripple announces new partnerships or uses the tokens in a way that affects supply.

For now, this feels like a quiet before the storm. Unlocking $2.2 billion worth of XRP isn’t something Ripple does lightly. Whether it leads to a major shift or just fits into their long-term roadmap, one thing is clear – Ripple is positioning itself for something, and the market is watching closely.