TLDR
- Ripple’s CTO confirms that escrow releases always happen on the first day of the month.
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XRP escrow releases do not automatically display on the ledger until a transaction is submitted.
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Recent escrow release included 1 billion XRP in three tranches.
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35.6 billion XRP remains in Ripple’s escrow following the latest release.
Ripple CTO David Schwartz has recently put an end to speculation surrounding the release timing of XRP from the company’s escrow. The clarification comes after an X user raised concerns about the seeming randomness of the recent escrow releases, which have traditionally been scheduled for the first day of each month. The user pointed out the most recent release of 1 billion XRP, which occurred on August 9, 2025, and was divided into three separate tranches.
Blockchain data tracker Whale Alert reported the release of the 1 billion XRP from the Ripple escrow in three transactions: 500 million XRP, 100 million XRP, and 400 million XRP. This release came as a surprise, as it deviated from the typical pattern of occurring on the first day of the month. Given that the release was reported on August 9, speculation began to swirl about the possibility of Ripple manipulating its escrow release schedule.
Ripple CTO Responds to Speculation
In response to these concerns, Schwartz took to social media to clarify how XRP escrow releases work. He explained that XRP’s escrow releases are always scheduled for the first day of each month, contrary to the apparent irregularity that some observers had noted.
Schwartz emphasized that while the escrow itself is released on the first day, the XRP Ledger does not automatically reflect this until a transaction is submitted to trigger it.
They always release on the first day of the month. You may not necessarily see any on ledger activity just because the escrow has released though. The ledger doesn't do anything by itself, it always waits for someone to submit a transaction to trigger it.
— David 'JoelKatz' Schwartz (@JoelKatz) August 9, 2025
Schwartz also addressed the theory that Ripple could potentially manipulate the release of all 36 billion XRP in escrow at once. He reassured the public that this is not the case. “They always release on the first day of the month,” Schwartz clarified.
“You may not necessarily see any on-ledger activity just because the escrow has released.”
Understanding the Escrow Mechanism
Ripple’s escrow system has been a subject of ongoing interest within the cryptocurrency community, especially given the company’s significant holding of XRP in escrow. According to the latest data from XRPscan, approximately 35.6 billion XRP remains in escrow, following the most recent release.
This figure reflects the amount that Ripple has locked in escrow since the network’s inception to ensure the controlled release of XRP into circulation.
The escrow contract was designed to release up to 1 billion XRP each month. This is done to avoid flooding the market with too many tokens at once, which could destabilize XRP’s price. Although the release process is structured and predictable, it still depends on individual transactions to trigger visibility on the XRP Ledger.
Role of XRP in the Market
Despite the regular monthly releases, XRP’s price and market activity can fluctuate depending on other factors. XRP’s price saw a surge recently, partly due to speculation around the escrow and potential releases. However, XRP remains a key player in Ripple’s business model, used primarily for cross-border payments and liquidity services.
As Ripple continues to evolve, the way it manages its escrow system and releases will continue to be a point of focus for both the cryptocurrency community and institutional investors. XRP’s role in the market remains central to Ripple’s operations, and the controlled release of XRP helps maintain stability within its ecosystem.
