XRP investors are currently on high alert following a significant movement by Chris Larsen, the co-founder of Ripple, who transferred a staggering 50 million XRP tokens to exchanges. This jolting action has raised eyebrows and sparked speculation about potential sell pressure in the market. Could this be a prelude to a broader sell-off? Let’s dig deeper into the implications of this transaction and what it might mean for XRP holders.
Just days ago, XRP was riding high, having soared to near all-time highs of $3.60 on July 17, only to have the excitement quickly dashed by Larsen’s wallet activity. Investors are now navigating a storm of mixed reactions; while some argue that this move was merely Larson reaping the benefits of a successful investment, others are interpreting it as a red flag for the future of XRP.
One of the notable voices sounding the alarm is J.A. Maartunn, an analyst at the on-chain data platform CryptoQuant. In a recent post shared on social media platform X, he warned XRP holders to be cautious and not to “get dumped on.” With Larsen still holding a colossal 2.58 billion XRP—valued at an impressive $8.83 billion—the recent transaction represents just a tiny fraction of his total holdings. Maartunn’s words echoed across the community: “If $200 million was just the warm-up… what’s next?” He urged traders to protect themselves and avoid becoming exit liquidity in what could become a worrying trend.
Following Larsen’s recent move, XRP’s price took a dive, correcting by 13% and trading at around $3.18 according to recent data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView. This sharp drop coincided with heightened market volatility, as Bitcoin experienced a significant plunge to $114,500 after a dormant wallet from the Satoshi era moved 80,000 BTC for the first time in 14 years, leading to liquidations exceeding $500 million within a day.
🚨 Chris Larsen (Ripple co-founder) still holds 2.58B $XRP — that’s $8.83B. If $200M was just the warm-up… what’s next? Don’t get dumped on. Don’t be the exit liquidity. Protect yourself. 👇 https://t.co/k152FXlm8N pic.twitter.com/T5CpTQjdDa— Maartunn (@JA_Maartun) July 25, 2025
With all eyes on the market, concerns about insider selling of XRP tokens are growing. Investors are especially wary with billions still under Larsen’s control, and many are closely monitoring signs of additional distribution that could further impact XRP’s price momentum. Notably, XRP has also seen an unprecedented spike in its perpetual futures open interest, which recently hit an all-time high of $8.8 billion. This represents a total of nearly 2.9 billion XRP in open contracts, signaling that traders are actively engaging in speculative trading.
Interestingly, the previous record for XRP’s notional open interest stood at $8.3 billion earlier this year, indicating that interest is on the rise as traders position themselves for potential market movements. Most exchanges are currently reporting a positive funding rate for XRP, which suggests a bullish sentiment among traders willing to pay to maintain their positions.
Moreover, the number of wallets holding at least 1 million XRP tokens has surged, reaching an all-time high. These wallets now collectively control over 47.32 billion tokens, reflecting growing confidence among large-scale investors despite recent turbulence.
Looking ahead, the future may hold a variety of outcomes for XRP. Ripple’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, has indicated plans to withdraw the company’s cross-appeal against the SEC, which could bring some clarity and stability to Ripple’s regulatory environment—an encouraging sign for many within the community. As this situation unfolds, one thing is certain: XRP holders must remain vigilant and informed as the stakes continue to rise in the ever-evolving landscape of cryptocurrency.
Whether you are an XRP enthusiast or simply keeping an eye on market developments, it’s essential to stay engaged and informed. Keep following our updates for the latest insights and analyses to navigate the complexities of the cryptocurrency world.