Ripple caused a stir in the crypto world with a surprise move: a massive $3.2 billion XRP unlock. This wasn’t your usual monthly release.
A Billion Here, a Billion There…
Over the weekend, blockchain trackers noticed three huge XRP transfers from Ripple’s escrow accounts. One transfer alone sent 500 million XRP (about $1.64 billion!) to an unknown wallet. Two more transfers added another 500 million XRP, bringing the total to a whopping $3.28 billion. This happened just days after their regular monthly release, leaving everyone scratching their heads.
Breaking with Tradition
Crypto influencer Xaif (@Xaif_Crypto on X) highlighted the unusual activity. Ripple typically unlocks 1 billion XRP at the beginning of each month. This time, the timing and the mystery wallet made it far from typical. The situation was even more surprising considering Ripple locked 700 billion XRP just a week earlier.
Past Irregularities and Market Impact
This isn’t the first time Ripple’s escrow system has acted strangely. In May 2025, they locked 700 million XRP before the usual monthly unlock. Earlier in 2024, monthly unlocks were smaller than expected, only to be “made up” later. This time, however, it doesn’t seem like a system glitch.
Ripple’s escrow system, launched in 2017, is meant to control XRP’s supply and prevent market crashes. The August unlock broke the established pattern. Despite the surprise, XRP’s price actually jumped over 16% last week, showing positive market sentiment. But large, unexpected moves like this can quickly change things, especially when billions are involved.
What’s Next?
Ripple still has around 35.6 billion XRP in escrow, subject to the usual monthly releases. But recent events show that the schedule isn’t always set in stone. Whether this is a one-off event or a sign of things to come remains to be seen.