Ripple Moves 1B XRP Amid Escrow Delay—700M Relocked, What’s Next?

Ripple’s usual monthly escrow release of 1 billion XRP did not occur on April 1. It marks a notable deviation from its established pattern. However, despite this delay, the blockchain giant moved 1 billion XRP across multiple wallets, with 700 million tokens relocked in escrow

This anomaly has sparked speculation about potential supply adjustments and market impacts, especially as the XRP price dipped 1.87% to $2.09 following the transfers. 

As  Ripple has been moving large amounts of XRP, what is still missing is 1 billion XRP escrow unlock, which usually happens at the start of each month. This suggests there may have been a change in Ripple’s automated release system, raising questions about whether the company is adjusting its supply strategy or preparing for a significant market move.

Breaking Down Ripple’s 1B XRP Transfers

Blockchain tracking service Whale Alert reported that Ripple carried out multiple high-value transactions in the early hours of April 2. These movements involved hundreds of millions of XRP, totaling billions of dollars. From the Ripple (26) wallet, 300 million XRP ($629 million) was sent to the address “rBg…91m” at 03:06 UTC, followed by 200 million XRP ($420 million) to “rKD…2op” at 03:09 UTC. Shortly after, the Ripple (27) wallet recorded two more large transactions—170 million XRP ($357 million) was transferred to “rKD…2op” at 03:28 UTC, and 330 million XRP ($693 million) was sent to “rDd…eCK” at 03:31 UTC.

700M XRP Relocked, 300M XRP Held for Operations?

Following these massive transactions, Ripple proceeded to relock 700 million XRP into escrow, signaling a controlled approach to its supply management. The “rKD…2op” wallet locked away 370 million XRP, while the “rDd…eCK” wallet secured 330 million XRP back into escrow. However, the “rBg…91m” wallet is still holding 300 million XRP, which is reserved for Ripple’s business operations or strategic use in the future. This escrow activity shows that Ripple is managing XRP’s supply carefully. Ripple helps to keep the market stable while still having enough funds available for business deals, investments, or future growth plans.

Conclusion: What’s Next for XRP?

The missing April escrow release has raised questions about whether Ripple’s automated schedule is experiencing delays or if a new strategic approach is in play. With 700M XRP relocked and 300M still available, investors will be closely watching the impacts on XRP liquidity and price movements in the coming weeks. If the escrow release happens later this month, it can lead to additional market fluctuations. Till then, traders should look out for  Ripple’s next move and its response to these developments.