Ripple and Executives Have Sold or Distributed About 58.5 Billion XRP Since 2012 Launch
Ripple Labs and its executives have sold or distributed approximately 58.515 billion XRP since the cryptocurrency’s launch in 2012, based on a comparison of original token allocations and current on-chain holdings.
XRP was launched in 2012 with a fixed supply of 100 billion tokens, all created at inception on the XRP Ledger. Historical records show that 80 billion XRP were allocated to the company that later became Ripple Labs, while the remaining 20 billion XRP were distributed among founders and early participants, including Jed McCaleb, Arthur Britto, and David Schwartz.
Current on-chain data indicates that Ripple and its executives now collectively control approximately 41.485 billion XRP.
Ripple itself holds about 37.685 billion XRP, consisting of roughly 3.5 billion XRP in directly accessible wallets and 34.185 billion XRP locked in escrow. The escrow system was introduced in 2017, placing 55 billion XRP into time-locked contracts that allow up to 1 billion XRP to be released each month, with unused amounts returned to escrow. As of 2025, more than 34 billion XRP remain locked under this mechanism.
Wallet tracking data shows varying levels of holdings among Ripple executives. Ripple chairman Chris Larsen controls approximately 2.5 billion XRP across multiple wallets, while co-founder Arthur Britto holds around 1.3 billion XRP. Ripple co-founder and CTO David Schwartz holds a significantly smaller amount, with historical holdings peaking at roughly 26 million XRP.
The difference between XRP’s original supply and current Ripple-linked holdings suggests that 58.515 billion XRP have entered circulation through sales, distributions, or ecosystem-related transfers over the past 13 years.
XRP first recorded a market price in August 2013 and has experienced multiple price cycles since then, even as billions of tokens were gradually released into the market.
The distribution of XRP has taken place alongside Ripple’s expansion, partnerships, and legal challenges, including its long-running case with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over XRP’s regulatory classification.
Unlike proof-of-work cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, XRP operates without mining, staking, or ongoing inflation, relying instead on its fixed supply and controlled release mechanisms.
