Ripple Unlocks 1B XRP in First Escrow Release After XRP Enters US Strategic Reserve

Ripple has unlocked the customary 1 billion XRP in its first escrow release after the U.S. government’s inclusion of XRP in a strategic reserve. 

As highlighted by on-chain tracking resource Whale Alert, Ripple observed the recent escrow release across three uneven transactions earlier this morning. The development came a few hours after the U.S. government confirmed that it plans to add XRP in its strategic crypto reserve.

Ripple Re-locks 700M XRP Before Receiving 1B from Escrow

Notably, the first transaction involved the release of 100 million XRP worth $279.8 million at the time to the Ripple address ‘rGK…Bdh’ today at 2:37 UTC. Eight minutes later, the escrow system released an additional 400 million XRP worth $1.12 billion to the same Ripple address. This brought the unlocked tokens to 500 million XRP.

Meanwhile, a few minutes later, another Ripple address ‘rHG…bQr’ witnessed the release of 500 million XRP values at $1.4 billion in one fell sweep, bringing the total unlocked tokens to 1 billion XRP worth $2.8 billion in alignment with the monthly escrow release custom.

Further investigation indicates that the first wallet ‘rGK…Bdh’ has retained all 500 million tokens, choosing not to move any to an external Ripple address for possible liquidation.

Interestingly, before receiving the recent 500 million XRP across two transactions from escrow, the address moved 300 million tokens to another wallet on March 1. Afterward, it transferred out another 200 million XRP, which Ripple re-locked in escrow on March 1.

Also, the second address, which received its 500 million XRP in one fell sweep, has held onto its tokens as of press time. In another interesting development, this address moved 500 million XRP to another Ripple wallet ‘rDd…eCK’ on March 1 before receiving the escrow release. 

Notably, ‘rDd…eCK’ already re-locked the 500 million in escrow on March 1 before the escrow release occurred today. If Ripple follows the traditional pattern, then the firm could also lock up the 100 million from the assets moved by ‘rGK…Bdh,’ potentially bringing total re-locked tokens to 800 million XRP, with a net release of 200 million tokens.

XRP in US Strategic Reserve 

As earlier highlighted, the latest escrow development comes on the back of confirmation from the U.S. government that it plans to include XRP in its reserve. Yesterday, FOX Business reporter Eleanor Terrett called attention to a Truth Social disclosure from President Donald Trump confirming that the U.S. strategic reserve will include XRP, Cardano (ADA) and Solana (SOL).

Wowza. President @realDonaldTrump is directing his Presidential Working Group to move forward on a U.S. strategic reserve to include American #crypto assets $XRP, $SOL and $ADA. pic.twitter.com/Aju6WxXjoi

— Eleanor Terrett (@EleanorTerrett) March 2, 2025

Recall that industry pundit Scott Melker disclosed in January that sources revealed XRP was under consideration as a strategic reserve asset. This came after President Trump signed an executive order, mandating the presidential working group to explore the creation of a “digital asset stockpile.”