XRP News Today: XRP Dips 17% After Ripple Co-Founder Moves $175M in XRP

Chris Larsen, co-founder of Ripple, has moved 50 million XRP—valued at $175 million—across multiple wallets between July 17 and July 23, 2025, sparking speculation about potential dumping and market manipulation. Blockchain investigator ZachXBT reported that approximately $140 million of the transfer went to centralized exchanges, a pattern often associated with large-scale sell-offs [1]. The transfers were split into four addresses: two receiving 30 million XRP each, one receiving 10 million, and two newly created wallets receiving 5 million each. While the exact intent remains unclear, the timing—occurring as XRP approached a local high of $3.60—has drawn scrutiny from the crypto community.

The movement follows broader whale activity in the XRP ecosystem. Whale Alert tracked a separate transfer of 44 million XRP ($140 million) to Coinbase within 24 hours, likely linked to internal liquidity management [1]. Such large-scale movements, whether by Larsen or other high-net-worth actors, often create downward pressure on prices. XRP’s value dropped 17% in the days following Larsen’s transfers, falling below $3.10 from its recent peak [1]. Analysts caution that while these outflows may amplify short-term volatility, they do not necessarily signal a bearish trend. Some suggest the price correction could mark the completion of a “Wave 4” pullback within a broader bullish cycle, with potential for a rebound to $3.60 or higher [2].

Larsen’s remaining holdings remain significant. He controls over 2.81 billion XRP, valued at $8.4 billion, which constitutes nearly 5% of the token’s total supply. Critics argue that retaining such a large stake while offloading $175 million could indicate opportunistic selling, whereas others posit it reflects a strategy to decentralize ownership among long-term holders. The lack of centralized control over XRP—Ripple does not hold a majority—adds complexity to interpreting the implications of such transactions.

The activity coincided with a surge in XRP-related scams, including phishing campaigns and fraudulent airdrops. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse issued public warnings, emphasizing that the company would never solicit user data or funds [1]. While no direct link exists between Larsen’s transfers and the scams, the token’s heightened visibility during its price rally may have inadvertently increased exposure to malicious actors. This underscores challenges in the crypto space, where decentralized governance can limit coordinated responses to fraud.

Market analysts remain divided on the long-term impact. Some highlight Ripple’s institutional adoption of XRP for cross-border payments and regulatory developments as key bullish factors, while others stress that short-term volatility will persist amid fluctuating investor sentiment [4]. The recent movements by Larsen and other whales, however, demonstrate how individual actions can amplify macroeconomic dynamics in a market with relatively low liquidity compared to traditional assets.

Source: [1] [Ripple co-founder moves $175M in XRP in a week amid scam surge warnings](https://cryptoslate.com/ripple-co-founder-moves-175m-in-xrp-in-a-week-amid-scam-surge-warnings/) [2] [XRP (XRP) Price Forecasts, Predictions & News](https://www.fxempire.com/crypto/ripple/news) [4] [CoinRank - The Best Data-Driven Portal to the Crypto World](https://www.coinrank.io/)