Ripple to Unlock 1 Billion XRP From Escrow on November 1

Ripple will release 1 billion XRP—worth roughly $2.5 billion at current prices—from escrow on November 1, as part of its regular monthly schedule. 

The release continues Ripple’s long-standing liquidity management system introduced in 2017 to ensure a predictable token supply.

XRP Supply and Market Implications

Each month, Ripple unlocks 1 billion XRP and typically re-locks 70–80% of it back into new escrows. Only 200–300 million XRP are used for operational needs, institutional sales, or ecosystem support. 

The process is fully auditable on-chain and designed to prevent sudden supply shocks. The upcoming unlock has drawn market attention because of XRP’s recent price volatility. 

In October, XRP traded between $2.30 and $2.68, buoyed by optimism around Ripple’s institutional expansion and Evernorth’s billion-dollar listing plans.

Despite the size of the escrow release, analysts expect minimal direct price impact since most tokens typically return to escrow.

However, traders will watch how much Ripple decides to re-lock this month as a possible signal of its liquidity and sales strategy heading into 2026. 

A lower re-lock could indicate higher planned distribution or funding activity.

XRP Price Chart in October. Source: BeInCrypto

Community Debate: Market Cap and Escrowed Tokens

X discussions this week reignited debate over how XRP’s market cap should be calculated. 

Developer Vincent Van Code argued that XRP’s effective supply is overstated, given that 35 billion XRP remain locked in escrow. He compared this to Bitcoin’s lost or dormant coins, claiming market caps distort actual liquidity..

Former Ripple CTO David Schwartz clarified the distinction.

The exchange underscored that escrowed XRP remains non-circulating until officially unlocked, though secondary rights to future releases can be sold—similar to forward contracts.

Ripple’s Broader Q4 Momentum

The escrow discussion comes amid a pivotal month for Ripple. Its backed venture Evernorth announced plans to go public and raise over $1 billion, positioning itself as the largest institutional XRP treasury company. 

Also, Japan’s gumi Inc. joined Ripple and SBI Group in the initiative, reinforcing XRP’s growing presence in institutional finance.

Meanwhile, XRP price also saw strong technical activity in October, briefly breaking resistance at $2.63 before retracing amid wider crypto volatility following the Federal Reserve’s latest policy move.

For XRP holders, the November 1 unlock is routine but strategically important. If Ripple maintains its usual re-lock pattern, price pressure is likely minimal. 

However, sentiment may hinge on how Ripple manages post-unlock liquidity and whether institutional flows from the Evernorth initiative begin reflecting in on-chain activity.