Ripple Releases $2.2B in XRP, Fueling Speculation About Potential Circle Acquisition

Ripple has released $2.2 billion worth of XRP from its escrow reserves, a move that follows a pattern of monthly releases designed to ensure predictable tokenomics. The release, executed through three separate transactions totaling 1 billion XRP, reaffirms Ripple’s long-standing commitment to controlled distribution. While the timing of the releases may cause market fluctuations, historical data indicates Ripple rarely dumps large quantities of XRP all at once and instead prioritizes distributing tokens in smaller tranches or returning them to escrow later on. The activity comes as speculation grows regarding a potential acquisition by Ripple of Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin. Though no official confirmation exists, reports suggest Ripple may have explored an acquisition offer for Circle, which is valued at approximately $5 billion. Ripple’s history with escrow and recent releases indicate continued commitment to transparency and strategic control of its XRP supply. While some believe this unlock might impact XRP price negatively, others see it as a sign of market maturity and growing investor confidence in Ripple’s future plans. 1 billion XRP released is significantly impactful, but it aligns with Ripple’s established monthly escrow schedule, providing predictability that many other projects lack. Ripple has been actively working towards regulatory approval and expanding its financial products like the RLUSD stablecoin, which could be aided by consistent token distribution control.