Ripple Releases 1 Billion XRP: Mistake or Intentional Strategy?
Date: 2025-04-04 Author: Henry Casey Categories: CRYPTO PAYMENTS
However, this time the process was accompanied by a two-day delay, which immediately attracted the attention of the crypto community. Investors are wondering: is Ripple preparing for a major change or testing new mechanisms? Meanwhile, the price of XRP has dropped, and analysts are predicting further price fluctuations.
According to Whale Alert, which tracks large cryptocurrency transactions, Ripple released 1 billion XRP in three parts. The largest tranche was 500 million XRP, equivalent to more than $1 billion. The other two transfers added 200 million XRP each, significantly increasing the total volume on the market.
However, it was not the transaction itself that attracted the most attention, but its delay. Unlike the standard schedule where Ripple releases XRP at the beginning of each month, the current unlock took place only on April 3. The day before, the company unexpectedly froze 700 million XRP in two transactions and then returned them to circulation. This unusual move has caused a lot of speculation about a possible change in the company's strategy.
Since 2017, Ripple has been operating according to a clearly established algorithm, releasing 1 billion XRP every month and then returning 700 million to the freeze. This scheme maintains the balance of liquidity in the market. However, since March, the XRP release schedule has been disrupted - and this has not gone unnoticed. Last month, the unlock also took place on the 3rd instead of the 1st.
It may be just a coincidence, but many analysts believe otherwise. Some believe that Ripple is deliberately testing a new approach that foreshadows serious changes. Others argue that this is a routine procedure that does not deserve special attention.
The discussions in the crypto community flared up immediately. On Twitter, people are discussing the reasons for the changes: from technical glitches to preparations for new partnerships or updates. Some users are trying to find logic in Ripple’s actions, while others are simply ridiculing the panic of newbies, reminding that some tokens always return to the freeze.
However, despite the skepticism, many investors continue to monitor the situation. Shortly after the release of a billion XRP, the token price fell by 5%, falling below the important level of $2.00. Leading crypto analyst Egrag analyzed the XRP/USDT chart and voiced two possible scenarios for April: either XRP will rise to $2.80-$3.00, or fall to $1.90-$1.79, but not for long.
Market expectations remain tense. It is not yet clear whether the unlock delay is part of a larger Ripple plan or just an accidental glitch. One thing is clear - the price of XRP will be subject to significant fluctuations in the near future.
