Ripple Confirms August 1B XRP Unlock, ETF Hopes Surge

After a week of speculation in the XRP community, Ripple has confirmed its August token release, unlocking 1 billion XRP from escrow on August 9. The move quashes rumors that this month might pass without an unlock, something that hasn’t happened since the escrow program began in late 2017. With its scheduled release XRP community is getting excited over the XRP ETF as it could be a sign the company is preparing for strategic reserves and potential ETF launches, hinting at bigger institutional moves ahead. 

Speculation Turns to Confirmation

The social buzz began when Ripple locked 700 million XRP at the start of August without releasing any new supply. Traders took to social media wondering if the company had quietly halted its monthly practice. “A bit intriguing if all of a sudden it just stopped,” one XRP wallet tracker posted on X. 

How the Release Happened

Whale Alert data shows the billion XRP release was split across three transactions worth roughly $3.28 million at the time. Ripple’s playbook remains largely unchanged; most of the unlocked supply, typically 650 to 800 million tokens, will return to escrow, with 200 to 350 million set aside for on-demand liquidity (ODL) usage, partnerships, acquisitions, and other ecosystem development.

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Was it Routine?

The company has long been known for its first-of-the-month billion-token unlocks. But earlier this year, Ripple started deviating from that timetable. In March, it began creating new escrows from its holdings and releasing tokens later in the month, a pattern repeated in the months since. The change appears aimed at adding flexibility and reducing predictable sell pressure on the market.

XRP Current Market Snapshot

With around 35.6 billion XRP still locked in escrow, according to XRPscan, monthly releases will remain part of Ripple’s tokenomics for years. While August’s unlock didn’t spark any immediate price rally, the event reassures holders that Ripple is sticking to its supply management strategy, albeit with more room to adjust timing to suit market conditions.

By breaking the suspense, Ripple has kept its liquidity pipeline flowing while signaling that even long-standing routines aren’t immune to change. For traders, that unpredictability may be as important as the unlock itself. 

With Whale Alert activity, legal clarity, and structural confidence from the company’s reserves, XRP price is consolidating, but building a base. A push above the $3.40 zone may trigger the next wave of upside, while support around $3.14–$3.20 could prove critical in preserving bullish sentiment.