$140 million in XRP to exchanges has sparked speculation about a possible sell-off by Ripple insiders.
This activity comes as blockchain detective ZachXBT flagged massive movements from a wallet linked to Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen. Since July 17, the wallet has moved 50 million XRP, worth around $161 million at the time. Most of this—$140 million—appears to have gone to exchange-linked wallets, likely for liquidation.
Such whale transactions always stir the community. Traders get nervous when big players like Larsen move tokens, especially to exchanges. Of the total 50 million XRP, 30 million went to two well-known exchange addresses. Another 10 million landed in a third address with a history of receiving trade-bound assets.
Whale wallets stir investor caution
The remaining 10 million XRP were split between two fresh wallets with no prior activity. This move has only deepened the mystery. Why the new addresses? Are they decoys, cold storage, or placeholders before future sales?
Large XRP movements from insiders are nothing new. Back in 2020, the SEC alleged that Larsen and his spouse sold $450 million worth of XRP between 2017 and 2020. At the same time, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse was accused of cashing out $150 million personally.
As of now, ZachXBT claims Larsen-controlled addresses still hold about 2.81 billion XRP. That stash is valued at nearly $9 billion at the current price of $3.20. While XRP briefly hit $3.65 on July 18, the rally cooled quickly amid a market-wide pullback.
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$140 million in XRP to exchanges fuels liquidation fears
Just days before XRP’s all-time high, Larsen reportedly transferred nearly $30 million in tokens to Coinbase. The timing led many to believe he may have sold at the peak. Now, this new batch of $140 million in XRP to exchanges has added fresh pressure on prices.
Whale activity creates short-term volatility. Even if it doesn’t crash the market, it certainly shakes retail sentiment. XRP is known for big price swings when liquidity pools shift. Traders are bracing for more movement as analysts track further transactions from Larsen-linked wallets.
Crypto community watches Ripple insiders closely
The crypto world watches Ripple insiders like hawks. The large holdings they command give them massive influence over market trends. While there’s no confirmed sale yet, the pattern of past behavior gives reason for caution. As ZachXBT continues to report movements, the XRP community remains alert.
Will this trigger a price drop, or is it just smart reallocation ahead of regulatory moves? Either way, all eyes are on what happens next.