Ripple to Unlock 1B XRP on May 1 as Price Tests Support

TLDR

• Ripple will unlock 1 billion XRP from escrow on May 1, 2026, under its monthly release program.
• The upcoming release carries an estimated value of about $1.41 billion at the current $1.41 XRP price.
• Ripple placed 55 billion XRP into escrow in 2017 to improve supply transparency and predictability.
• The company typically re locks 60% to 80% of released tokens into new escrow contracts.
• In March and April 2026, Ripple retained only 200 to 300 million XRP for operational use.

Ripple will release 1 billion XRP from escrow on May 1, 2026, under its monthly program. The unlock equals about $1.41 billion at the current $1.41 price. Market participants now assess supply impact and short-term price risk.

Ripple Escrow Release Keeps Monthly Schedule

Ripple created its escrow system in 2017 and placed 55 billion XRP on the XRP Ledger. The company designed the structure to improve transparency and supply predictability. Since then, Ripple has released 1 billion XRP at the start of each month.

The May 1 unlock continues a schedule expected to run through at least 2027. Based on XRP at $1.41, the tranche carries a value of nearly $1.41 billion. However, price swings may adjust the final valuation before execution.

Ripple usually re locks 60% to 80% of released tokens into new escrow contracts. In March and April 2026, the company retained only 200 to 300 million XRP for operations. As a result, most unlocked tokens did not enter active circulation.

XRP Price Action Tests Key Support Levels

XRP has traded in consolidation for more than 12 weeks after the first quarter volatility. Although fundamentals have improved, price action remains under pressure. The token now risks breaking below a multi-week ascending support line.

Market data indicate that XRP may remain in an early macro Elliott Wave correction. Analysts identify the next support zone around $1.13 on higher time frames. If that level fails, the price could move toward $0.90 and $0.73.

Technical charts show that $0.73 aligns with the 0.702 Fibonacci retracement on the three-day chart. Traders often track this level for potential liquidity concentration. XRP also continues to trade below key resistance levels during recent sessions.

Some short-term traders evaluate exposure ahead of the May 1 escrow release. They weigh technical levels more heavily than the unlock event itself. Others focus on time horizon and risk tolerance rather than monthly supply mechanics.

Ripple has maintained that its escrow program supports orderly token distribution. The company has followed the same release pattern since 2017. The next 1 billion XRP unlock remains scheduled for May 1, 2026.

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