Ripple’s first 2026 escrow unlock released 1B XRP across three transactions while price volatility stayed contained versus unlock size. A sarcastic memo attached by a third-party initiator falsely implied Ripple sold billions of XRP, fueling community backlash and confusion. The episode underscored that any wallet can trigger scheduled releases and write memos, revealing widespread misunderstandings of Ripple’s escrow model.
Ripple executed its first scheduled escrow unlock of 2026 on Jan. 1, releasing 1 billion XRP tokens through three separate transactions that occurred within seconds around midnight, according to blockchain data. The release distributed 500 million tokens across two major wallets in installments of 300 million and 200 million, with Ripple allocating the remaining 500 million tokens to itself. Both addresses now hold 1 billion tokens each, having previously contained 500 million tokens from prior unlocks, according to market observers tracking the wallets. Neither wallet has moved the newly unlocked tokens, and Ripple has not relocked any tokens into escrow as of publication.
Under the escrow mechanism, any party can initiate releases when scheduled times arrive, with the initiating wallet controlling transaction memo content, while Ripple serves only as the designated recipient in these transactions, a structure that has been in place since 2017. The incident highlighted widespread misconceptions about escrow mechanics among market participants, according to community leaders who issued statements following the event. Many participants incorrectly believed Ripple controls release triggers and authored all associated communications. The memo did not originate from Ripple, according to subsequent clarifications from community members and blockchain analysts.
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