Ripple Unlocks 1,000,000,000 XRP From Escrow Amid Rumors of Circle Acquisition

San Francisco-based blockchain infrastructure company Ripple has released its standard allotment of 1 billion XRP from escrow for May 2025.

Ripple unlocked all 1 billion XRP from escrow in three separate transactions in the late hours of yesterday. For the first transaction, Ripple unlocked 200 million XRP ($440.52 million) at 22:28 (UTC) to one of its addresses labeled Ripple (26). 

The company released another 300 million XRP ($660.86 million) from escrow to the same Ripple (26) address a minute later. At 22:31 (UTC), the company unlocked another 500 million XRP worth $1.1 billion to a separate address, tagged Ripple (27). 

Overall, it released 1 billion XRP ($2.2 billion) from escrow for May 2025, with Ripple (26) receiving 500 million XRP in two tranches and Ripple (27) getting 500 million XRP in one transaction. At the time of publication, each address had a balance of 500 million XRP. 
Ripple

Locks 700M XRP in May 2025
The latest transaction comes exactly 24 hours after Ripple shuffled 1 billion XRP, with 700 million of these tokens sent to escrow. As previously reported, both Ripple (26) and Ripple (27) were involved in the May 1 transaction. 

Specifically, Ripple (26) moved 500 million XRP to two addresses, Ripple (1) and Ripple (14), with each receiving 300 million XRP and 200 million XRP, respectively. On the other hand, Ripple (27) sent 500 million XRP to three different addresses labeled Ripple (14), Ripple (15), and Ripple (51). 

While Ripple (14) received 300 million XRP from Ripple (27), Ripple (15) and Ripple (51) collected 30 million XRP and 170 million XRP, respectively.

Following the transactions, Ripple (14) locked 500 million XRP in escrow. Ripple (15) and (51) followed suit by locking the 200 million XRP they both received from Ripple (27) in escrow. This brings the total number of XRP locked in escrow this month to 700 million XRP. 

Previously, Ripple usually released its standard 1 billion XRP from escrow before re-locking 700 million back. However, the company changed this practice in recent months. Now, it first locks the 700 million XRP in escrow before releasing the 1 billion XRP. The 300 million XRP balance is used for different purposes, including providing liquidity on exchanges. 
Ripple Reportedly Moves to Acquire Circle 
Meanwhile, the recent development coincides with reports that Ripple is seeking to acquire USDC stablecoin issuer Circle. The reports suggested that Circle rejected Ripple’s initial offer of $5 billion, prompting the blockchain infrastructure company to raise its bid to $20 billion. 

However, several crypto stakeholders, including Dom Kwok, co-founder of Web3 education startup EasyA, refuted the $20 billion claim, noting that the offer is implausible.  

In the meantime, Ripple and Circle have not confirmed whether they are negotiating a deal. Nonetheless, the reports align with Ripple’s commitment to prioritize acquisition over IPO.