Ripple, its founders, and major cryptocurrency exchanges dominate the 2025 XRP rich list. The top 10 addresses collectively control 18.63% of XRP's circulating supply, while addresses ranked 10–50 hold 26.11%. Remaining addresses account for 55.26% of circulating XRP.
XRP remains a top-tier digital asset with a market capitalization exceeding $123 billion. Despite price volatility linked to ongoing regulatory challenges, global investor interest persists. Of its fixed 100-billion-coin supply, 56.56 billion XRP currently circulate.
This analysis reveals the key players shaping XRP's ownership landscape in 2025.
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Key Insights
- Centralized ownership: Ripple and exchanges (Binance, UPbit, Uphold) hold substantial XRP reserves
- Escrow influence: 9 of top 10 wallets belong to Ripple when including escrowed tokens
- Market position: XRP ranks as the 6th-largest cryptocurrency by market cap
- Distribution pattern: 20%+ of circulating supply controlled by top 10 addresses
- Exchange dominance: Custodial wallets represent retail investor holdings
The XRP Rich List Hierarchy
Top 10 Holders Analysis
Exchange wallets and Ripple-controlled addresses comprise most top positions. Custodial holdings reflect user deposits rather than institutional ownership.
| Owner | XRP Holdings | % Circulating Supply | Blockchain Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uphold | 1,851,489,151 | 3.26% | rsX8cp4aj9grKVD9V1K2ouUBXgYsjgUtBL |
| Bithumb | 1,474,739,811 | 2.59% | rPyCQm8E5j78PDbrfKF24fRC7qUAk1kDMZ |
| Ripple #1 | 1,330,027,088 | 2.34% | rMQ98K56yXJbDGv49ZSmW51sLn94Xe1mu1 |
| Binance | 1,219,286,648 | 2.14% | rs8ZPbYqgecRcDzQpJYAMhSxSi5htsjnza |
| Ripple #2 | 1,195,544,084 | 2.10% | rKveEyR1SrkWbJX214xcfH43ZsoGMb3PEv |
Data reflects February 2025 holdings
👉 Compare XRP holdings across exchanges
Founder Holdings Breakdown
Ripple's original team allocated themselves 20 billion XRP at launch:
- Chris Larsen: 5+ billion XRP across verified addresses
- Jed McCaleb: Fully divested by 2025 after 8-year sell-off
- Brad Garlinghouse: Undisclosed significant holdings
Regulatory uncertainty from the SEC case continues to influence founder divestment strategies.
Comparative Crypto Wealth Distribution
| Cryptocurrency | Top 10 Address Concentration |
|---|---|
| XRP | 18.6% |
| Bitcoin | 5.4% |
| Ethereum | 57.0% |
| Dogecoin | 44.4% |
| Cardano | 10.0% |
Key observations:
- Ethereum shows highest centralization due to staking contracts
- Bitcoin demonstrates most decentralized distribution
- XRP falls mid-range with exchange-influenced metrics
FAQ: XRP Wealth Distribution
Q: How much XRP do Ripple executives currently hold?
A: Verified addresses show founders retain billions of XRP, with exact figures fluctuating due to ongoing sales and escrow releases.
Q: Why do exchanges dominate the XRP rich list?
A: Custodial wallets aggregate retail investor holdings, creating concentration metrics that don't reflect individual ownership.
Q: How does XRP's distribution compare to traditional assets?
A: More concentrated than gold but less than some equities, with unique dynamics from escrow and exchange custody.
Q: What percentage of XRP remains in escrow?
A: Approximately 42% of total supply remains in Ripple-controlled escrow accounts as of 2025.
Q: Are whale movements affecting XRP price stability?
A: Large transactions primarily occur between institutional wallets, with minimal direct market impact due to OTC settlement practices.
Q: How can retail investors track whale activity?
A: Blockchain explorers like XRPScan provide real-time monitoring of major wallet transactions.
The XRP ecosystem continues evolving with regulatory clarity and institutional adoption shaping its wealth distribution patterns. While exchange custody creates centralized metrics, underlying ownership reflects broad global participation.