When evaluating the price trend of Ripple (XRP), the market often overemphasizes the price itself while overlooking a more forward-looking indicator—the XRP Rich List and its underlying ownership structure. From on-chain distribution data, there is a significant gap between XRP’s nominal circulating supply and the truly tradable supply, and this gap is profoundly affecting market supply and demand dynamics.
Firstly, XRP has recently experienced a notable correction, with the price dropping from a high of approximately $3.66 to around $1.85, a decline of nearly 50%. During the price decline, inflows of XRP into mainstream crypto exchanges increased significantly, with daily transfer volumes reaching between 35 million and 116 million tokens, indicating rising short-term selling pressure. However, at the same time, the total amount of XRP held by exchanges has continued to decrease, now approaching 1.5 billion tokens, reflecting that, in the long term, the available trading chips are diminishing.
More importantly, the ownership structure of XRP warrants attention. Data shows that over 6 million wallets hold 500 XRP or less, most of which belong to retail investors. The actual control of large supplies resides with a limited number of high-net-worth addresses, known as the XRP Rich List wallets. This means that although the total supply of XRP is large, the concentration is high, and the true liquidity is far lower than surface data suggests.
Additionally, XRP holdings and usage are subject to multiple protocol-level restrictions. Some tokens are locked due to account reserve requirements, network operational mechanisms, or functional purposes, preventing free circulation. This further compresses the effective supply in the market. Meanwhile, the entry cost for XRP has risen significantly; currently, purchasing 1,000 XRP costs about $1,750, compared to roughly $500 over a year ago, limiting retail investors’ ability to add positions during the correction.
Overall, limited holdings in small wallets, decreasing freely tradable XRP, and large supplies controlled by wealthy addresses are creating a potential supply-demand gap. Under this structure, once selling pressure eases and demand marginally rebounds, the XRP market could quickly shift from loose to tight. This is why, compared to short-term price fluctuations, the XRP Rich List and on-chain ownership distribution often reveal more about its long-term trend and potential turning points.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
Ripple report: 8 African countries advance crypto regulation, with South Africa leading the stablecoin space
Ripple reports that about 8 countries in Africa have established cryptocurrency regulatory frameworks, driving high adoption rates due to demand for remittances and inadequate financial infrastructure. Regulation is more mature in South Africa and Mauritius, while Nigeria and Kenya are still developing. Stablecoins are gradually shifting from speculation to business use, enhancing the potential for integrating financial systems.
MarketWhisper17m ago
XRP Leads $224 Million Weekly Inflows as Ethereum Lags and Bitcoin Sentiment Remains Mixed
Global digital asset investment products recorded $224 million in net inflows for the week ending April 3, 2026, following a $414 million outflow the prior week, with XRP dominating at $119.6 million while Ethereum saw $52.8 million in outflows and Bitcoin posted $107.3 million in net inflows amid polarized investor sentiment.
CryptopulseElite23m ago
XRP Today News: A whale’s holdings have reached a 10-month high as the Ripple conference in Tokyo gets underway
At the XRP Tokyo Conference, Ripple predicts that global on-chain stablecoin transaction volume will exceed $33 trillion in 2026, while large investors continue to withdraw XRP from exchanges, pushing its holdings to a 10-month high. The market is watching regulatory developments, especially the impact of the “CLARITY Act.” In the short term, the XRP price is consolidating between $1.28 and $1.35; if it breaks above $1.35, it may see an upward move.
MarketWhisper1h ago
Yesterday, U.S. spot XRP ETF recorded a total net inflow of $3.3202 million ($332.02 million) in a single day.
On April 7, XRP spot ETF recorded a net inflow of $3.3202 million in a single day. Among them, the Bitwise XRP ETF had the largest net inflow, at $1.9005 million; the Franklin XRP ETF recorded a net inflow of $1.4197 million. Currently, the total assets net asset value (NAV) of the XRP spot ETFs is $922 million, and the historical cumulative net inflows have reached $1.21B.
GateNews2h ago
XRP Stabilizes Near Key Levels Amid Fed Pressure and Rule Shift
Key Insights
XRP stabilized near $1.31 as macroeconomic pressures and declining liquidity combined to limit recovery momentum and increase short-term volatility risks significantly.
Proposed stablecoin regulations favor utility models, positioning RLUSD for growth while reducing incentives t
CryptoNewsLand5h ago
XRP Long Liquidations Jump as Crypto Market Loses $285M
Key insights
XRP long traders lost $3.22 million in 24 hours, far exceeding short losses, as liquidation imbalance surged to 537% overall today.
Although XRP rose 0.37% to $1.31, traders expecting a stronger rebound toward $1.50 instead faced rapid liquidations across exchanges
CryptoNewsLand9h ago
