Ripple (XRP) Price: Co-Founder Chris Larsen Transfers $175 Million After All-Time High

TLDR

• Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen transferred $140-175 million worth of XRP to exchanges after the token hit $3.65
• XRP price dropped over 10% following the transfers, falling from $3.65 to around $3.09
• Larsen still controls approximately 2.6-2.81 billion XRP tokens worth over $8 billion
• On-chain data shows transfers occurred between July 17-24, coinciding with XRP’s price peak
• A 2012 agreement revealed early founder allocations, raising concerns about centralization

Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen moved between $140 million and $175 million worth of XRP to exchanges following the cryptocurrency’s surge to a new all-time high of $3.65 on July 17, 2025. The transfers triggered a sharp price decline of over 10%.

Blockchain analyst ZachXBT reported that Larsen transferred 50 million XRP tokens to multiple wallet addresses between July 17 and July 23. Approximately $140 million of these funds landed on centralized exchanges or off-ramp services.

Since July 17, 2025 an address linked to Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen transferred out 50M XRP ($175M) to four addresses.

~$140M ended up at exchanges/services

30M XRP recipient
rPS9kVPbgZF4vXq2hs6s9Xv2754qdRau98
rnQXgGAjqbF4KoBpcBK5YBHyZEL7nGWWoi
10M XRP recipient…

— ZachXBT (@zachxbt) July 24, 2025

The timing of these transfers coincided with XRP reaching its highest price ever. The token subsequently fell from $3.65 to as low as $2.99 before recovering slightly to around $3.09.

On-chain data from CryptoQuant confirmed increased activity from Larsen’s wallet during this period. The wallet’s cumulative balance showed a clear decrease that aligned with the price drop.

Market participants quickly reacted to the news. Trading volume spiked as investors processed the implications of such large transfers from a company insider.

Historical Pattern Emerges

This behavior mirrors similar activity during previous market cycles. During the 2017-2018 bull run, founder wallet outflows often coincided with price peaks.

Larsen has reportedly moved over $344 million worth of XRP in January 2025 alone. This includes an $8 million transfer to Coinbase on July 15 and 16 when XRP traded near $3.25.

The co-founder maintains control of between 2.6 and 2.81 billion XRP tokens. At current prices, this holding represents approximately $8 billion in value.

Such a large concentration of tokens in founder hands creates concerns about future selling pressure. Market participants worry about the impact if additional sales occur on open markets.

2012 Agreement Surfaces

A recently surfaced 2012 agreement between Ripple’s founders provides additional context. The document shows that Chris Larsen, Jed McCaleb, and Arthur Britto divided the initial XRP supply among themselves.

Arthur Britto received 2% of all XRP tokens according to the agreement. He also obtained lifetime rights to develop on the Ripple protocol without requiring company approval.

This early distribution structure reinforces concerns about XRP’s centralized nature. Critics point to the concentration of supply among early insiders as a ongoing issue.

The XRP community remains divided over these transfers. Some view them as part of Ripple’s long-term decentralization strategy.

Others see the moves as opportunistic profit-taking that harms retail investors. One critic accused Larsen of taking advantage of his supporters through these sales.

Neither Ripple nor Larsen has provided official comment on the transfers. This silence has increased speculation and market uncertainty.

Despite the sell-off, XRP maintains strong market metrics. The token’s market capitalization stands at approximately $183 billion.

Technical indicators show support near the $3 level. Traders are monitoring for a potential rebound past the $3.40-$3.50 range.

XRP Price on CoinGecko

XRP touched a one-month high of $3.56 on July 22 before beginning its decline. The token could potentially revisit its previous all-time high of $3.84 if market conditions improve.

Future institutional developments like XRP Futures listings and ETF demand could provide positive catalysts. However, the visible influence of founder activity may keep sentiment cautious in the near term.

The transfers highlight broader concerns about insider trading and transparency in cryptocurrency markets. Large holders’ ability to influence prices through exchange deposits remains a structural issue for many tokens.

With billions in XRP still under founder control, market participants will continue monitoring wallet activity closely. Any future large-scale movements from top holders could trigger similar market reactions.