Ripple’s XRP Ownership: Major Holders and Power Structure
Ripple’s XRP ownership is concentrated among Ripple Labs, founders, and exchanges. Ripple Labs holds 46% of the total XRP supply in escrow, releasing tokens monthly to manage market volatility. Co-founder Chris Larsen owns around 5 billion XRP, while CEO Brad Garlinghouse holds a significant stake. Ex-CTO Jed McCaleb has sold most of his allocation over time. Major exchanges such as Binance and Upbit together control over 2% of circulating XRP. The top 20 wallets account for more than half of all XRP, highlighting a whale-driven market.
This concentration fuels centralization concerns. Large holders and escrow schedules can trigger price swings if tokens are sold in volume. However, institutional involvement and transparent escrow releases also bring stability and trust. Traders should monitor escrow unlocks and whale movements for short-term signals.
With over 6 million XRP wallets globally, retail investors still play a role. The balance between central control and widespread adoption will shape XRP’s long-term outlook.
Neutral
This analysis of XRP ownership offers valuable context but does not introduce any immediate trading catalysts. While concentrated holdings and scheduled escrow releases can influence short-term XRP price swings, the article presents existing data rather than new partnerships, regulatory rulings, or technological upgrades. Similar past reports on whale dominance led to temporary volatility, yet did not alter long-term trends. Therefore, the market impact is expected to be neutral. Traders may track escrow unlocks and whale movements for potential signals, but without fresh developments, this news is unlikely to drive sustained bullish or bearish momentum.