Since 2017, Ripple has managed its substantial XRP holdings through a carefully structured escrow system designed to regulate supply and maintain market stability.
At the inception of this plan, Ripple placed 55 billion XRP, over half of the total 100 billion tokens, into time-locked escrows. The goal was to ensure transparency, prevent sudden market flooding, and build investor confidence by providing a predictable release schedule.
The escrow was initially scheduled to release 1 billion XRP per month over 55 months, but Ripple often re‑locks a portion of each monthly unlock, effectively extending the overall release timeline.
Data from 2025 shows that for many months, only around 300 million XRP from the 1 billion unlocked are used or distributed, while the remaining 700 million are re‑locked. This pattern has been consistent in recent years, with monthly variations reflecting operational needs, ecosystem funding, and strategic decisions regarding liquidity.
Timeline for releasing all Ripple-held XRP
As of late 2025, approximately 35 billion XRP remain in escrow. If Ripple maintains the current pace of releasing roughly 300 million XRP per month, the remaining escrowed XRP could be fully unlocked around 2035.
However, even then, full escrow depletion does not necessarily mean all tokens will immediately enter the market. Many of the released XRP may remain in Ripple-controlled wallets, be used for partnerships or operational purposes, or be subject to new escrow agreements.
At the same time, it’s worth noting that the escrow system and staggered release schedule have significant implications for XRP’s price.
By controlling supply inflows, Ripple reduces the risk of sudden price drops due to oversupply, fostering a more stable trading environment.
Conversely, larger or unexpected releases could temporarily increase market supply and affect short-term price dynamics. Investors and market watchers closely monitor these unlock patterns, as they provide critical insight into potential XRP liquidity and market behavior.
Notably, over the recent months, the scheduled monthly unlocks have had little impact on XRP’s price, which continues to trade in line with broader market sentiment and fundamentals such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
XRP price analysis
At the moment, the token is attempting a recovery after dipping below the $2 level, in line with the broader sector. By press time, XRP price was trading at $2.16, having dropped over 3% in the last 24 hours.
Notably, maintaining support above the fragile $2 level remains crucial for any chance of moving higher.
Featured image from Shutterstock
