XRP News Today: A Crypto King's Quiet Exit: What Does Larsen's XRP Sell-Off Signal for the Future?

Ripple co-founder and former CEO Chris Larsen has offloaded millions of XRP tokens in recent months, raising concerns among investors and analysts about the potential implications for the cryptocurrency’s price trajectory and market sentiment. The large-scale sale, reported in late 2025, has not yet triggered a significant price drop, but it has intensified scrutiny over the influence of major stakeholders in the XRP ecosystem. Larsen’s holdings, once among the largest on the XRP Ledger, have been gradually liquidated, with multiple transactions exceeding $100 million in value.

The move has sparked debate among market participants about the broader market dynamics at play. XRP has experienced a strong year in 2025, having surged more than 400% in value since early in the year. This growth has been attributed to Ripple’s ongoing legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which concluded in favor of Ripple in October 2024, and the increasing adoption of XRP through products like the XRP Mastercard and strategic partnerships. Despite these developments, the offloading of tokens by a key figure like Larsen introduces a layer of uncertainty.

DeepSeek AI, a prominent market forecasting platform, has predicted that XRP could reach a price of $5 by the end of 2025, contingent on the approval of an XRP ETF in October. This potential approval is seen as a critical factor in attracting institutional investment to the asset. Additionally, a recent large whale transaction, estimated to be worth millions, was linked to Kraken, suggesting that major players may be positioning for a new price rally. However, such movements also highlight the susceptibility of XRP to volatility and the influence of large holders.

The broader crypto market has also been in a state of flux, with Ethereum recently reaching a new all-time high before consolidating near $4,280. While Ethereum’s performance is generally viewed as a positive indicator for the altcoin space, it also signals the potential for a market correction. Analysts note that Ethereum’s current price level is a key battleground, and a sustained break above $4,490 could signal a renewed bullish phase. Meanwhile, XRP’s ability to maintain its recent gains may depend on its capacity to retain institutional support and expand real-world use cases, such as through the integration of the XRP Ledger into gaming platforms and other utility-focused applications.

Despite the positive momentum, XRP faces potential competition from new blockchain projects, such as Google’s Cloud Universal Ledger (GCUL), which is currently in beta testing and expected to launch in 2026. GCUL is a private, permissioned blockchain optimized for cross-border payments and asset tokenization, similar to the XRP Ledger. Unlike XRP, however, GCUL does not rely on a native token, potentially offering a more stable mechanism for value transfer. While XRP’s first-mover advantage remains a significant asset, the emergence of alternatives like GCUL could challenge its market position, particularly if financial institutions continue to favor permissioned solutions.

In conclusion, the recent offloading of XRP by Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen has not yet led to a significant price correction but has heightened market awareness of the asset’s sensitivity to large movements. While DeepSeek AI and other forecasting models remain bullish on XRP’s potential, the broader crypto market remains volatile. Investors are advised to monitor both regulatory developments and technological advancements, as well as the actions of key stakeholders, to better navigate the evolving landscape.

Source:

[1] Is Google Developing an XRP Killer? (https://www.fool.com/investing/2025/09/05/is-google-developing-an-xrp-killer/)

[2] XRP to ETH: XRP Price in Ether (https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/xrp/eth)

[3] China's DeepSeek Predicts XRP, Ethereum, Pi Prices by ... (https://cryptonews.com/news/chinas-deepseek-ai-predicts-the-price-of-xrp-ethereum-and-pi-coin-by-the-end-of-2025/)