Ripple’s XRP token has surged close to 600% in the last three months, sparking investor interest in its ownership distribution. A token’s supply concentration can significantly impact price stability and market manipulation risks. This article explores XRP’s top holders, distribution trends, and long-term implications for investors.
Overview of XRP Holders
Key Ownership Stats
- Ripple Labs: Holds the largest share—46 billion XRP (locked in escrow for managed releases).
- Chris Larsen (Co-founder): Reportedly owns 5 billion XRP.
- Exchanges: Binance holds 1.83 billion XRP, while Upbit leads exchange holdings with 4.37% of the total supply.
As of January 2025, XRP trades at $3.16**, with a **$182 billion market cap and $8.2 billion daily volume.
How Many People Own XRP?
- Estimated active wallets: ~6 million, holding 99.99 billion XRP.
Supply concentration:
- Top 10 wallets: 41.04% of supply.
- Top 50 wallets: 63.71%.
- Smaller holders (≤100K XRP): 7.53%.
👉 Discover how XRP’s distribution compares to other top cryptocurrencies
Ripple Labs’ Role in XRP Ownership
Ripple Labs, founded in 2012, developed XRP to power RippleNet, a cross-border payment solution. While its 46 billion XRP reserves support ecosystem growth, critics highlight centralization concerns—contrary to blockchain’s decentralized ethos.
The Impact of XRP’s Ownership Distribution
Risks of Supply Concentration
- Price Volatility: Large sell-offs by top holders (50.53% controlled by top 20) could crash prices.
- Market Manipulation: Whales may influence trends via coordinated trades.
- Reputation Risks: Over-reliance on few entities undermines trust in XRP’s decentralization.
Investor Takeaways
- Research tokenomics: Analyze supply allocation and holder diversity.
- Monitor escrow releases: Ripple’s scheduled unlocks can affect circulating supply.
FAQs
1. Who holds the most XRP?
Ripple Labs (46 billion XRP) and co-founder Chris Larsen (5 billion XRP) are the largest individual holders.
2. How many XRP wallets exist?
~6 million active wallets, though exchanges and multi-wallet users inflate this estimate.
3. Is XRP’s supply too centralized?
Yes—top 50 wallets control 63.71% of supply, raising decentralization concerns.
4. Can major holders manipulate XRP’s price?
Potentially. Large sell-offs or buys by whales could trigger significant price swings.
👉 Learn strategies to mitigate risks in concentrated crypto assets
Key Terms: XRP holders, Ripple Labs, XRP supply distribution, cryptocurrency whales, tokenomics.