XRP’s Monthly Ritual : Ripple To Release 1B Tokens Again

Each token unlock by Ripple rekindles tensions around XRP. On August 1^st, one billion tokens will be released from escrow, according to a well-established monthly schedule. Predictable but always monitored, this move fuels speculation about a possible market impact as XRP attempts to cross a crucial technical threshold. In a still nervous crypto climate, Ripple’s strategy raises as many questions as it reassures.

A Programmed and Controversial Mechanism

Since 2017, Ripple has implemented an escrow system aimed at releasing 1 billion XRP tokens each month, while crypto currently stands out in an uncertain market. This device, designed to regulate supply and strengthen predictability, is based on a fixed 55-month schedule.

On August 1^st, 2025, Ripple will carry out another token release from its locked accounts. This operation follows a proven model : a portion of the tokens is reinjected into escrow, the rest is kept for internal needs.

Last June, 670 million XRP were put back into escrow, while 330 million were retained by Ripple. This distribution, although documented, remains at the heart of questions from part of the community.

Specifically, Ripple holds between 30 % and 40 % of the unlocked tokens each month, which fuels a series of criticisms and questions among investors. Here are the key points of the current operation :

• Amount released : 1 billion XRP, every 1^st of the month, following a schedule initiated in 2017 ;

• Usual distribution : between 60 % and 70 % of tokens are put back into escrow, the rest is used by Ripple ;

• Funds allocation : operational needs, liquidity initiatives, or market strategies not publicly detailed ;

• Declared goal : to ensure predictable supply management to avoid a sudden liquidity influx ;

• Recurrent criticisms : some investors see this as a disguised sale that weighs on the price of XRP.

So far, these monthly unlocks have not caused major market imbalances. Nevertheless, the opacity regarding the precise use of funds and the lack of detailed communication from Ripple nurture a form of structural mistrust in the crypto community.

Diverging Perceptions and Risks of Massive Sell-Off : Between Fears and Rationality

Some XRP community members regularly denounce what they perceive as a form of institutionalized “massive selling.” They point fingers at Ripple, accusing it of benefiting from these unlockings to boost its finances at the expense of retail investors.

Recurring criticisms that attorney and legal consultant Bill Morgan firmly rejected in a message posted on social platform X on July 22, 2025 : “even the SEC acknowledged that escrow’s purpose was to support the crypto’s price, not to cause it to fall”.

Even the SEC recognised that the escrow was intended to buttress the price of XRP not deflate it. The SEC considered this to be one of the factors that would give investors an expectation of profits from the efforts of ripple. It is one of the scores of grounds I have posted to… https://t.co/JcT6xCpFiY

— bill morgan (@Belisarius2020) July 22, 2025

He reminds that Ripple has already reduced its escrow holdings by 20 billion XRP since 2017, without causing liquidity crises or price collapses.

Meanwhile, recent data show that XRP price fluctuations are not directly correlated with monthly unlockings. Currently, the crypto is trading at $3.14, down more than 10 % in 24 hours. These fluctuations seem to reflect the overall crypto market dynamics more.

If this August 1^st operation follows the usual logic, the real market impact could remain limited or even neutral. However, in a context of technical resistance at $3.50 and a possible return to the historical highs of $4, any catalyst can amplify movements.