Ripple Unlocks 1B XRP as Trump Adds It to US Crypto Reserve, Price Jumps 30%

As part of the monthly release of 1 billion XRP tokens, Ripple unlocked another 1 billion XRP on 3rd March 3 before re-locking the 700 million XRP tokens into an escrow wallet.

This came after U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that select cryptocurrencies, including XRP, were added to the new U.S. Crypto Strategic Reserves. Following this news, XRP, the third-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, surged 30% in a day, reaching a market cap of $150 billion.

Could this endorsement bring in more institutional investors and fuel an even bigger rally? Let’s dive into the details.

XRP On the Move!

On March 3, blockchain tracker Whale Alert reported the release of 1 billion XRP from Ripple’s escrow accounts, worth around $2.6 billion in multiple transactions. The first 500 million XRP was sent in two batches 100 million first, followed by 400 million to the wallet ‘rGKHD…2Bdh.’ 

However, a few minutes later, another 500 million XRP was sent in a single transaction to the wallet ‘rHGfm…sbQr.’

Ripple unlocks XRP every month, but this time, the release gained more attention due to Trump’s announcement. Many believe that adding XRP to the U.S. Crypto Reserve could bring in more big investors and boost its price.

700 Million XRP Locked Back in Escrow

Despite unlocking 1 billion XRP, Ripple did not release all of it into the market. Instead, 700 million XRP was locked back into escrow. Here’s how the distribution played out:

• First wallet: Received 500 million XRP but has not moved it yet. Previously, it sent 300 million to another wallet on March 1 and locked back 200 million.
• Second wallet: Received 500 million XRP but quickly moved the same amount to another Ripple wallet, which then locked it back in escrow.

If Ripple follows its usual monthly pattern, another 100 million XRP might be locked, leaving only 200 million XRP in circulation.

XRP Price Jumps but Faces Resistance

Following these events, XRP’s price surged 17%, reaching $2.60 at the time of writing. In the past 24 hours, it has gained 30%, pushing its market cap to $150 billion.

However, technical indicators suggest that XRP is now facing resistance at the $3 level, which could slow down its rally. If buyers break past this level, the next target could be $3.40, its January high.

XRP’s bullish surge signals growing confidence—whether it can sustain this momentum is the real question.