Ripple releases 1B XRP tokens valued at $1.84B at the beginning of the year 2026, and it ignites controversy among the XRP community regarding the future sale strategy.
Ripple launched the first planned escrow unlock in 2026. The blockchain payments corporation issued 1 billion XRP tokens, or $1.84 billion. The Crypto Basic on X states that, in a few seconds around midnight, three separate transactions took place.
The move caused eyebrows to be raised among the crypto community. Following a period of bearish price moves in late 2025, XRP had witnessed, despite the institutions starting to adopt the Ripple technology in large numbers. The first day of the new year has come with a lot of controversy among the XRP enthusiasts.
Billion-Dollar Token Movement Shakes Market
Escrow release was divided into two major wallets. Ripple (28) received 500 million XRP in two installments: 300 million worth $552 million, and the second installment of 200 million worth 368 million. Ripple allocated the remaining half-billion XRP to itself, bringing both addresses to 1 billion XRP. As The Crypto Basic reported on X, neither wallet has moved the newly unlocked tokens, and Ripple has not relocked any tokens into escrow.
It was worth a total of 1.84 billion at press time. Each wallet already contained 500 million XRP since prior unlocks. Ripple established the monthly escrow release program in 2017, and this process occurs under that program. The firm usually reimburses idle amounts back into escrow upon market evaluation.
Both wallet addresses were immediately tracked by market watchers. The absence of instant relocking contrasted with certain past trends. XRP trading volumes surged after the unlock, and the price volatility did not go as high as it could have with the colossal release of the tokens.
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Fake Memo Creates Confusion Among Holders
The point of contention revolved around transaction memos on all three unlocks. Crypto Basic explained on X how an unidentified party took advantage of the escrow mechanism, sending a false message that looked official.
The memo asserted that Ripple sold more than $8 billion in XRP in 2025 and indicated that such sales financed several acquisitions in the company. It also said that Ripple had intended larger sales in 2026, citing expansion and RLUSD growth.
The author framed that as sarcastic appreciation to XRP holders, and he mocked the community slogan: know what you hold. Many readers initially believed Ripple issued the message, and social media platforms erupted with debates over its implications.
But Ripple did not author or write the memo. Any party can initiate releases when the scheduled times arrive, and the initiating wallet fully controls the transaction memo content; Ripple has served only as the designated recipient since 2017.
The episode underscored the common misconception regarding the mechanics of escrow. Ripple controls release triggers is a misconception among many market participants. The impersonator exploited this knowledge gap to spread misinformation, but community members soon clarified the facts and identified the source of the fake memo.
The leaders of the XRP community encouraged people to check the source of information and stressed the need to learn how blockchain transactions work. The Crypto Basic on X included comprehensive explanations to make community members differentiate between legitimate communications, and some major personalities requested enhanced education of the crypto-economic system of escrows.
Source: https://www.livebitcoinnews.com/ripples-1-84b-xrp-drop-triggers-community-firestorm/
