Who owns the most ripple (XRP) and how is it distributed?
Ripple’s XRP is among the most actively traded digital assets, supported by a finite supply and a publicly verifiable distribution system.
Ripple’s XRP cryptocurrency spent several years in a period of legal uncertainty following a high-profile case brought by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). That case concluded in August 2025, when the court ruled that only institutional sales of XRP violated federal securities laws. Ripple paid a fine and accepted a permanent injunction on institutional sales, but it can continue its wider operations.
Despite this, XRP has remained one of the largest digital assets by market capitalisation. With renewed regulatory clarity and growing institutional participation, many continue to ask: who owns the most XRP?
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What is Ripple (XRP)?
Ripple Labs was founded in 2012 to make international money transfers faster and more efficient. Its XRP Ledger (XRPL) supports cross-border payments and asset transfers, aiming to provide a cost-effective alternative to systems such as SWIFT.
The XRP token can be used to transfer assets across the Ripple network and is also traded on numerous cryptocurrency exchanges. Ripple was co-founded by programmer Jed McCaleb and entrepreneur Chris Larsen. Larsen remains Ripple Labs’ executive chairman, while Brad Garlinghouse serves as CEO.
Unlike many other cryptocurrencies, XRP does not rely on mining or staking. All 100 billion XRP tokens were created at inception, with Ripple Labs retaining a large portion in escrow accounts. The company releases up to one billion XRP per month to support liquidity and operations, returning any unused amount to escrow – a process that helps support price stability and liquidity predictability.
Ripple’s XRP ownership structure
| Entity | Holding (approx.) | % of total supply | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ripple Labs (escrow + operations) | ~42 billion | 42% | Centralised in company escrow, used for liquidity and operational purposes |
| Chris Larsen | ~2.5 billion | ~2.5–4.6% | Founder’s long-held stake across multiple wallets |
| Binance (exchange) | >2 billion | ~2% | Customer funds held for trading and custody |
| Top 100 wallets (combined) | ~68 billion | ~68% (of circulating) | Includes institutions, private holders, and unidentified wallets |
Source: FastBull, 10 September 2025
- Ripple Labs remains the single largest holder of XRP, controlling around 42% of the total supply. These holdings are primarily managed through the company’s escrow system.
- Chris Larsen personally holds roughly 2.5 billion XRP across several wallets, accounting for about 4.6% of the global market capitalisation.
- Major exchanges – including Binance – reportedly hold over 2 billion XRP for customer custody and trading purposes. These are client assets, not corporate funds.
- Institutional and high-net-worth ownership has grown, with the number of 'whale' wallets (those holding over one million XRP) continuing to rise. The top 100 wallets collectively control around 68% of circulating XRP, indicating a concentration among a relatively small group of holders.
Anonymity and ownership visibility
Blockchain transparency allows the identification of large XRP wallets, but most are pseudonymous, making it difficult to verify who owns them in the real world.
Known addresses – such as those belonging to Ripple, founders, or exchanges – can be tracked, but many major wallets remain unidentified. These are generally believed to include institutional participants, exchanges, and high-net-worth individuals.
Market structure and whale activity
Whale activity in XRP has intensified following regulatory developments and broader market volatility. Larger investors are increasingly accumulating XRP, while exchange data reflects a balance between long-term accumulation and short-term profit-taking.
These trends suggest a gradual shift from predominantly retail ownership towards greater institutional participation, reinforcing Ripple’s expanding role within a more regulated financial landscape.
Ripple news and updates (2025)
Ripple’s August 2025 court settlement brought long-awaited regulatory clarity to the US crypto sector. The decision, coupled with a more supportive regulatory environment, has encouraged greater institutional adoption.
In November 2025, Ripple completed a $500 million funding round led by major financial institutions such as Citadel Securities, Fortress, Pantera Capital, Galaxy Digital, and Brevan Howard. The company’s valuation rose to approximately $40 billion, reflecting growing confidence in its role in mainstream finance.
New partnerships with enterprises such as Mastercard, and the approval of spot XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mark a significant step towards institutional integration.
Key takeaways
- Ripple Labs remains the dominant holder of XRP, overseeing the escrow system that governs much of the supply.
- Ownership remains concentrated, though institutional participation has increased since 2024.
- Recent funding, regulatory clarity, and ETF approvals are supporting XRP’s position within the broader digital asset ecosystem.
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FAQ
How many XRP are there in the world?
As of November 2025, around 54 billion XRP tokens are in circulation out of a total fixed supply of 100 billion. Ripple Labs manages most of the remaining tokens through its escrow system, which releases up to one billion XRP each month to support liquidity and operational requirements. Any unused tokens are returned to escrow, helping maintain a predictable and transparent supply structure.
Who are the biggest XRP holders?
- Ripple Labs remains the largest single holder of XRP, controlling roughly 42% of the total supply. These holdings are primarily managed through corporate escrow accounts.
- Chris Larsen, Ripple’s executive chairman, holds an estimated 2.5 billion XRP across several wallets – equivalent to around 4.6% of the total market capitalisation.
- Major exchanges such as Binance reportedly hold over 2 billion XRP for customer custody and trading purposes.
Beyond these known entities, large 'whale' wallets – those holding over one million XRP – have continued to increase in number, suggesting growing institutional and high-net-worth participation. The top 100 wallets collectively hold approximately 68% of circulating XRP, indicating a concentration of ownership among a limited number of holders.
How is XRP different from bitcoin?
Unlike bitcoin, which relies on mining through a proof-of-work mechanism, all 100 billion XRP tokens were created at launch. XRP transactions are validated using a consensus protocol, allowing faster settlement times and lower energy consumption.
Bitcoin is primarily considered a store of value, whereas XRP was designed to enable fast, cost-efficient cross-border payments between financial institutions. However, both assets are subject to price volatility and can experience notable fluctuations based on market conditions.