In an interesting turn of events in the realm of cryptocurrencies, researchers have found that a tiny number of wallets contain a sizable fraction of XRP’s Surge, the native token of the Ripple network. According to recent statistics, just 25 wallets own over 20.3 billion XRP tokens—about 35% of the cryptocurrency in use.
This concentration of riches in the hands of a few implies that the ultra-rich—including institutional investors and wealthy people—are betting heavily on XRP, which might significantly affect the future of the cryptocurrency.
XRP Whale Concentration
XRP, initially launched in 2012, has long been one of the top cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. As of 2025, it is the third-largest digital asset, after Bitcoin and Ethereum. The cryptocurrency is designed to facilitate fast and low-cost cross-border transactions, aiming to disrupt the traditional financial system. Ripple Labs, the company behind XRP, has partnered with numerous financial institutions worldwide, further boosting XRP’s utility and market presence. As these partnerships grow and the demand for efficient payment solutions increases, XRP has become an increasingly valuable asset.
Given its prominence in the market, XRP has attracted the attention of large investors, or “whales,” who hold significant amounts of the token. The concentration of holdings within the XRP ecosystem is striking. According to the latest data, the top 10 XRP wallets hold roughly 20.99% of the circulating supply, while the top 50 wallets control over half (53.3%). This concentration level is not uncommon in the cryptocurrency world, but it raises questions about the motivations of these large holders and their influence on the XRP market.
XRP Ownership Structure
Most of these large XRP wallets belong to well-known cryptocurrency exchanges, which act as custodians for the assets of many individual investors. For instance, platforms like Uphold and Bithumb are among the largest holders of XRP. Uphold controls approximately 1.8 billion XRP tokens, making it the largest single wallet, followed closely by Bithumb, which holds about 1.5 billion XRP. In addition to exchanges, Ripple Labs remains the largest holder of XRP tokens. Ripple Labs controls 46 billion XRP as of early 2025, most of which is in escrow and released periodically. This controlled release method prevents the market from flooding with tokens, which could hurt XRP’s price.
Ripple Labs also benefits from the significant holdings of its co-founder, Chris Larsen, who is believed to be the largest individual holder of XRP. Larsen reportedly owns over 5 billion XRP tokens. Tipple Labs and its founders hold such large amounts of XRP, which gives them substantial influence over the cryptocurrency’s ecosystem. The company’s ability to control the token supply and its ongoing efforts to expand XRP’s use cases further emphasize the strategic importance of XRP to both Ripple and the broader financial sector.
XRP Whale Influence
The possibility of market manipulation is raised by the fact that a small number of wallets contain such a big proportion of XRP. Given that XRP is still a rather less liquid market than Bitcoin and Ethereum, large-scale sell-offs by these whales might produce notable price volatility. Depending on whether these big holders choose to sell or buy more tokens, their activities could drive the price of XRP in either direction.
On the other hand, some contend that the existence of such big institutional investors might provide market stability. These investors are more likely to hang onto their shares than to sell off all at once since they have a stake in XRP’s long-term success. This might contribute to a more mature market environment and help to reduce sharp price swings.
This concentration of wealth, meanwhile, raises issues regarding the XRP network’s decentralization. Many cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and XRP, claim to be fundamentally based on devolution. XRP’s concentration of holdings might, however, not match this objective. The notable impact of Ripple Labs, exchanges, and a small number of affluent people could lead to a more centralized system than many blockchain and cryptocurrency supporters would want.
XRP Institutional Confidence
Notwithstanding these issues, the enormous holdings by institutional investors and the ultra-rich point to a firm conviction about XRP’s direction. Particularly in the financial services space, analysts believe these whales could be setting themselves up for future advantages as XRP’s acceptance rises. XRP’s relationships with big financial institutions and use in cross-border payment solutions give a strong basis for long-term expansion.
The continuous legal struggle Ripple Labs is engaged in with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) casts doubt on XRP’s regulatory position. Should Ripple effectively fix this problem, it might open the path for even more XRP adoption, hence increasing its price and long-term prospects.
Final thoughts
The concentration of XRP assets in a few wallets emphasizes the increasing impact of institutional investors and ultra-wealthy people in the bitcoin space. This demonstrates a strong belief in the future potential of XRP, even if it may generate questions over the centralization of the XRP ecosystem and the possibility of market manipulation.
The acts of these big holders will be significant in determining XRP’s market path as Bitcoin develops and becomes accepted in the worldwide financial system. To know how these whales affect the price and market dynamics of XRP, investors and market players will have to keep a careful eye on their activity.
