TL;DR
- Chris Larsen, Ripple's co-founder, moved 50 million XRP (~ $175 million) to four addresses, including ~30m to private wallets and ~20m to exchanges.
- Blockchain detective ZachXBT reported ~$140 million moved to exchange-linked addresses, raising questions about potential sales.
- Larsen still controls 2.81 billion XRP (about $8.9 billion), making these moves less than 2% of his holdings-unlikely to significantly impact token price.
- No signs the XRP went to any major exchange, no immediate sell-off detected.
- Community reaction was calm overall, no real panic, just curiosity.
In a series of moves on July 17, Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen transferred 50 million XRP ( $175 million) to four separate wallets tied to himself. On-chain investigator ZachXBT flagged the transfers-revealing that approximately 30 million XRP moved to private wallets, while 20 million XRP was sent to centralized exchanges. Moves to exchanges are often seen as pre-sale signals.
Despite the headline number, this represents under 2% of Larsen's total XRP holdings, which remain at over 2.81 billion tokens (valued at roughly $8.9 billion) -making any immediate market impact likely limited.
Liquidation Frenzy Adds Tension
Crypto markets have been extremely active lately, with over 247,694 traders liquidated in the past 24 hours-totaling $712.5 million in forced exits, according to Coinglass. XRP price hit around $3.16, buoyed by positive sentiment, but the spike in volatility could tempt major holders like Larsen to offload.
In response to the wallet activity, one analyst noted that the large transfer triggered heavy sell pressure-prompting dip-buying-only to be met by renewed selling pressure, causing whipsaw swings in price. That mirrors similar patterns seen during major whale moves.
Half-Hold, Half-Sell? Understanding the Split
Why would Larsen split his transfer between private wallets and exchanges? A few possible explanations:
- Custodial reallocation: Moving XRP into new wallets can bolster security-especially after his prior $112 million leaked via hack in early 2024.
- Staged selling: Transferring to exchanges could prepare for a gradual sell, while private wallet transfers keep options open.
- Neutral cash-out: He may be converting a small portion to personal or Ripple-related holdings, not a full liquidation.
So far, none of the exchange-linked transfers have been confirmed as sales.
Will XRP Price Be Affected?
With Larsen's holdings making up only about 4.6% of XRP's total market cap (~$183 billion), small sell-offs could weigh on short-term sentiment-but the broader balance sheet remains strong .
Moreover, analysts observed that XRP surges have historically triggered whipsaw market behavior-big moves wipe out margin-long positions, but rebounds often follow. That dynamic may play out again, depending on whether Larsen's funds stay parked or hit the order books.
Community Reaction
One popular trader noted that massive moves broke markets short-term before heavy buying stepped in, but sellers quickly countered-suggesting caution amid volatility. Many in the XRP community initially expressed concern, speculating about a potential sell-off or loss of confidence. Some posts on X hinted at fears of a broader market impact, especially given the lingering pressure on altcoins amid current market volatility.
However, several long-time XRP holders and analysts downplayed the event. According to community members on platforms like X and XRP Chat, movements from known wallets especially those connected to Ripple insiders aren’t uncommon and often don't lead to immediate sell pressure. Overall, the broader dip in XRP price seems to be more about general market sentiment than any one transfer.
Broader Context: Whale Moves Don't Always Mean Dumps
High-profile XRP movements from Larsen are not new:
September 2020: He transferred 500 million XRP to a secure custody provider (NYDIG)-a move later clarified as a safety upgrade, not a sale.
January 2025: Around $109 million in XRP moved to exchanges-though no confirmed sale followed.
In many cases, coins are moved for security, governance, or technical reasons-not necessarily to be sold immediately.
Final Thought
Yes, Chris Larsen moved $175 million in XRP and funneled $140 million to exchanges. That's noteworthy-but it doesn't guarantee a sell-off. With over $8 billion still in his control, Larsen has room to rotate strategy without rattling markets. For now, this move is a signal-a chapter in an ongoing story, not the final act.
