XRP News Today: Ripple Faces Allegations of Secret XRP Sales Amid Transparency Concerns

Ripple Labs is facing scrutiny from blockchain analysts and cryptocurrency commentators who allege that the company is secretly selling millions of XRP through intermediary-held wallets. This controversy arises despite Ripple's public assurances that its escrow-locked reserves are secure. The allegations stem from suspicious transactions and a recent $300 million treasury transaction involving Webus International, which has raised questions about transparency and regulatory compliance.

The core of the controversy revolves around Ripple's monthly escrow releases. While Ripple has stated that 55 billion XRP, representing 55% of the circulating supply, are locked in escrow contracts, critics point to on-chain evidence suggesting that portions of these unlocked tokens are being transferred to untagged addresses before reaching exchanges. Blockchain analytics firm Santiment tracked transactions in early June where 120 million XRP, valued at $54 million, were moved from a known Ripple escrow account to an unidentified wallet. These funds were then divided into smaller tranches and sent to various exchanges, a pattern that some analysts attribute to past sell-offs.

The situation intensified with the disclosure by Webus International of a $300 million XRP treasury managed by SEC-registered adviser Samara Alpha. Crypto analyst Darkhorse suggests that this arrangement allows Ripple to sell XRP to intermediaries like Samara, which then sell the tokens to corporate clients. This method is seen as a way to circumvent a 2024 court injunction against direct institutional sales without SEC approval. Ripple has denied any partnership with Webus, asserting that it does not control third-party XRP acquisitions. However, blockchain analysis firm ChainArgos observed a cluster of wallets connected to both Ripple and Samara Alpha, raising suspicions about potential coordination.

In response to the allegations, Ripple CTO David Schwartz dismissed the accusations as "conspiracy theories," emphasizing that all escrow releases are pre-planned and transparent. He highlighted that the XRP Ledger is public, and every transaction is visible, suggesting that the claims of secret token dumping ignore both the data and Ripple's legal obligations. The company also referenced its Q1 2025 Markets Report, which identified $240 million in XRP sales, all of which were ODL (On-Demand Liquidity) transactions, not institutional open-market deals.

The XRP community is divided over the issue. Some investors applaud Ripple's alleged strategy to avoid regulatory hurdles, while others express concern that stealth sell-offs could continue to drive prices downward. Pro-Ripple commentators argue that the criticism is overblown, comparing Webus's purchase of XRP through Samara to corporate adoption of other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. However, critics call for an independent on-chain audit to address the concerns.

As the controversy unfolds, investors are advised to closely monitor escrow wallet activity and exchange netflows for any signs of suspicious transactions. Regulators, including the SEC, are also paying attention, as the Webus-Samara structure could raise securities law issues. The ongoing accusations highlight the persistent challenges of transparency and trust in the cryptocurrency market, even for companies that claim to operate with full disclosure.