Who holds the largest amount of XRP? A guide to Ripple’s XRP supply

Ripple Labs, the creator of the XRP cryptocurrency, holds the largest share of the total supply of XRP, with an estimated 46 billion XRP tokens. In addition to Ripple Labs, Chris Larsen, the co-founder of Ripple Labs, is known to hold around 5 billion XRP tokens. Cryptocurrency exchanges, especially large ones like Binance, also hold significant amounts of XRP. Binance, for example, is reported to hold about 1.83 billion XRP, which adds to the concentration of XRP ownership in the hands of a few large entities.

As of January 2025, it is estimated that there are approximately 6 million active XRP wallet holders, who collectively own around 100 billion XRP. However, it is difficult to determine the exact number of XRP holders due to the anonymous nature of blockchain transactions. Many holders may own multiple wallets, and several large wallets are controlled by exchanges, making it challenging to calculate the exact distribution. Data from Bithomp suggests that these 6 million wallets are distributed across various holders, with some holding large amounts while others hold relatively small quantities of XRP.

A significant portion of XRP is concentrated in the hands of a small number of holders. According to Coincarp, approximately 41% of the total supply of XRP is controlled by the top 10 wallets, while the top 20 wallets hold more than 50% of the total supply. This concentration continues to increase with the top 50 and 100 wallets controlling approximately 64% and 72% of the total XRP supply, respectively. Such a high concentration of XRP in a few hands raises concerns about the potential for market manipulation, as these large holders could significantly impact the price of XRP if they decide to sell their holdings in bulk.

When looking at the distribution among smaller holders, wallets that hold between 1 million and 10 million XRP account for around 6% of the total supply. Wallets with holdings between 100,000 and 1 million XRP represent 11% of the supply, while wallets with smaller holdings between 1,000 and 100,000 XRP account for 7.5% of the total XRP. The majority of XRP, however, is concentrated in the hands of a relatively small number of large accounts, including centralized exchanges.

Ripple Labs has made efforts to manage the supply of XRP in a way that avoids flooding the market. Much of Ripple Labs’ XRP holdings are placed in escrow, with scheduled releases over time. This mechanism helps to control the release of XRP to the market and prevent large fluctuations in the token’s price. Despite this, the fact that Ripple Labs controls such a significant portion of the total XRP supply has led to concerns about the centralization of XRP and its potential impact on the market. While Ripple Labs argues that its large stake is a necessary part of developing the XRP ecosystem, critics have raised concerns about the risks of too much centralization in the supply of a digital asset.

The distribution of XRP among holders also raises concerns about the long-term stability of the token’s price. If a few major holders, including Ripple Labs and large exchanges, were to sell off significant portions of their holdings, it could have a dramatic effect on the market price of XRP. This could result in sharp price declines and affect investor confidence in the cryptocurrency. The market’s reliance on a few large holders could also impact the perceived decentralization of XRP, which is one of the core principles of blockchain technology. For investors, it is important to carefully consider the tokenomics and supply distribution of XRP before making any decisions to buy or sell, as the centralized nature of XRP ownership could lead to significant price volatility in the future.

Overall, while Ripple Labs’ control over the majority of XRP tokens has helped to fuel the development and growth of the ecosystem, it also introduces risks associated with market manipulation and price stability. Investors should be aware of these risks and consider them when evaluating XRP as a potential investment. Understanding who owns the most XRP and how it is distributed is crucial for making informed decisions about the future of the token and its potential for growth or decline in value.