Ripple Unlocks 1B XRP as XRP Enters US Reserve—Bullish or Bearish?

• Ripple unlocked 1 billion XRP worth $2.8 billion, coinciding with the U.S. government confirming XRP’s inclusion in a strategic crypto reserve.
• Despite the release, past patterns suggest a large portion of XRP could be re-locked, limiting market supply expansion.

Ripple has unlocked 1 billion XRP, worth approximately $2.8 billion, marking its first escrow release since the U.S. government confirmed its inclusion of XRP in a strategic reserve. On-chain data from Whale Alert confirmed that the release happened in three transactions: 100 million XRP ($279.8 million) at 2:37 UTC, 400 million XRP ($1.12 billion) eight minutes later, and 500 million XRP ($1.4 billion) to a different address.

Ripple follows a regular monthly schedule for escrow releases to keep XRP liquid while preventing price swings. What makes this release stand out is its timing—just hours after former U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that XRP, along with Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and Cardano (ADA), will be part of the U.S. “Crypto Strategic Reserve.”

Ripple’s History of Re-Locking XRP

While Ripple unlocked 1 billion XRP, previous patterns suggest a significant portion could be returned to escrow. Already, wallet activity indicates movement toward potential re-locking.

Earlier on March 1, before the latest escrow event, the ‘rGK…Bdh’ wallet had transferred out 300 million XRP to another address, later moving an additional 200 million. Ripple promptly re-locked the 200 million XRP into escrow, a common practice to prevent market oversupply.

Similarly, the ‘rHG…bQr’ wallet shifted 500 million XRP to another address, ‘rDd…eCK,’ which immediately re-locked the full amount. If the same approach follows, another 100 million XRP from the latest escrow release could also be re-locked, reducing the net circulating supply increase to 200 million XRP.

U.S. Government Confirms XRP’s Inclusion in Crypto Reserve

The decision to add XRP to the U.S. reserve has sent ripples through the crypto market, driving a fresh wave of investor optimism. FOX Business journalist Eleanor Terrett highlighted a recent Truth Social post from Donald Trump, where he confirmed that XRP, along with BTC, ETH, ADA, and SOL, would be part of the country’s digital asset reserve. Trump stated:

My Executive Order on Digital Assets directed the Presidential Working Group to move forward on a Crypto Strategic Reserve that includes XRP, SOL, and ADA. I will make sure the U.S. is the Crypto Capital of the World,

Apart from the XPR inclusion in the Crypto Strategic Reserve, XRP has been on a parabolic run, skyrocketing over 390% since mid-November. The price surged from $0.55 to over $2.70, with analysts eyeing a potential move past the $7 mark in the coming months. For long-term predictions, analysts are even hopeful for the XRP $18K mark.

Source: STEPH IS CRYPTO

More than $200 billion flooded into the cryptocurrency market within minutes of Trump’s announcement. XRP has rebounded sharply from its bull market support band, with trading volume soaring as investors anticipate further upside.