Ripple Executives Sold $109B in XRP Since 2012: Centralization Report

VADODARA, January 26, 2026 — Ripple and its executives have sold over 58.5 billion XRP tokens since 2012. According to a report by CryptoBasic, these sales total approximately $109 billion. The sales represent a significant portion of XRP's initial 100 billion token allocation. Current combined holdings for Ripple and its executives now stand at around 41.485 billion XRP. This daily crypto analysis reveals deep centralization risks.

Investigation: The $109 Billion XRP Liquidity Grab

CryptoBasic's forensic report details the sales timeline. Ripple and its leadership sold 58.5 billion XRP over 14 years. The company allocated 100 billion tokens at launch in 2012. Sales supported ecosystem development, per Ripple's statements. Current holdings of 41.485 billion XRP remain substantial. Market structure suggests these sales created consistent sell-side pressure.

Ripple previously stated it reduces holdings to ease centralization concerns. The price of XRP rose about 31,000% over the same period. On-chain data indicates these sales often preceded price volatility. Consequently, the sales represent a long-term liquidity grab.

Market Context & Historical Precedent

Historically, large token sales by founding teams signal centralization risks. In contrast, decentralized networks like Ethereum show more distributed holdings. XRP's sales mirror early Bitcoin mining rewards but with concentrated control. Underlying this trend is a persistent Fair Value Gap (FVG) between reported utility and market price.

, recent market shifts highlight regulatory scrutiny. For instance, Bithumb flagged Oasis (OAS) with an investment warning amid DAXA scrutiny. Similarly, Bybit delisted several spot pairs amid extreme fear sentiment. These actions reflect broader market caution.

Technical Architecture & Price Action

XRP currently trades at $1.88, down 0.29% in 24 hours. The Fibonacci 0.618 retracement level at $1.75 acts as critical support. A break below this level invalidates the current bullish structure. Resistance sits at the $2.10 Order Block from January highs.

Volume Profile shows thinning liquidity above $2.00. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovers at 45, indicating neutral momentum. Moving averages (50-day and 200-day) are converging, suggesting consolidation. Market analysts note that UTXO age bands for XRP show increased hodling despite sales.

By The Numbers

Why It Matters

This report matters for institutional liquidity cycles. Large, consistent sales create overhead supply that caps price appreciation. Retail market structure often fails to account for this sell-side pressure. The SEC's ongoing case against Ripple, detailed in official SEC filings, adds regulatory uncertainty. Consequently, XRP's centralization risks affect its classification as a security.

, token distribution impacts network security and governance. Centralized holdings can lead to decision-making bottlenecks. This contrasts with projects emphasizing decentralized governance, like Ethereum's move to proof-of-stake.

Expert Commentary

"The $109 billion in sales since 2012 represents a massive liquidity extraction event. Market structure suggests these sales have created persistent Fair Value Gaps (FVGs) that XRP struggles to close. For long-term investors, the key is monitoring Ripple's remaining 41.5 billion XRP holdings and their release schedule." — CoinMarketBuzz Intelligence Desk

Market Outlook & Price Scenarios

Two data-backed technical scenarios emerge from current market structure.

• Bullish Invalidation Level: $2.10. A break above this resistance confirms a trend reversal, targeting the $2.50 region.
• Bearish Invalidation Level: $1.75. A break below this Fibonacci support invalidates the bullish structure, potentially testing $1.50.

The 12-month institutional outlook remains cautious. Regulatory clarity from the SEC case will dictate momentum. Historically, post-settlement events in crypto lead to volatility spikes. Over a 5-year horizon, XRP's utility in cross-border payments must outweigh centralization concerns.