Ripple’s XRP token release in June broke from its usual schedule, signaling a strategic shift in how the company manages supply. On June 4, Ripple Labs unlocked 1 billion XRP, valued at around $2.2 billion, but unlike previous months, this drop didn’t happen on the first day.
Ripple Adjusts Monthly Escrow Pattern
Ripple typically releases tokens on the first day of each month. This regularity builds investor confidence and helps manage XRP’s circulating supply. However, since March 2024, these scheduled releases have started arriving later than usual—a trend that continued in May and again this June.
The company released the 1 billion XRP in three separate transactions, according to Whale Alert:
- 400 million XRP (~$882M) to wallet Ripple 26
- 500 million XRP (~$1.1B) to Ripple 27
- 100 million XRP (~$220M) back to Ripple 26
As a result, both Ripple wallets now hold 500 million XRP each.
670 Million XRP Locked Back in Escrow
Despite unlocking 1 billion tokens, Ripple also locked 670 million XRP back into escrow in two separate transactions:
- 470 million XRP
- 200 million XRP
This move returns about $1.46 billion to long-term hold status. The net increase in circulating supply now stands at 330 million XRP, raising the total available to approximately 58.76 billion.
Whale Activity and Coinbase Transfers Add to Buzz
Whale Alert also flagged nearly 54 million XRP moving into Coinbase. Initially, the source wallets were marked as unknown. However, blockchain analysis later confirmed that the tokens were transferred from Coinbase’s cold storage to active operational wallets.
These movements come amid rising optimism over a potential XRP ETF approval.
XRP ETF Approval Odds Surge
According to Coinspeaker, there’s now a 98% chance that the SEC will approve an XRP ETF by December 2025—a jump of 23% in just one month. The buzz surrounding ETF speculation may be contributing to market activity alongside the escrow news.
Meanwhile, the SEC has delayed its decision on Grayscale’s XRP ETF filing, instead launching a public comment period to gather feedback and analyze the case more deeply. This regulatory attention could have long-term implications for XRP’s market position.
