Ripple XRP Escrow Could Last Another 9 Years as 32.9 Billion XRP Remains Locked

Ripple XRP escrow reserves could take another nine years to run out if the company continues its current pattern of releasing and re-locking tokens.

According to Ripple’s latest XRP distribution data, the company holds 32.9 billion XRP in escrow and another 5.03 billion XRP in wallets under its direct control. At current prices, the escrowed XRP alone is worth over $37 billion.

Escrow Balance Continues to Decline

Notably, Ripple placed 55 billion XRP into escrow in December 2017. Under the system, up to 1 billion XRP is released every month.

However, Ripple does not typically use the full amount. Instead, it re-locks a large portion of the released XRP to limit new supply entering the market.

Recent data shows the escrow balance fell from 36.2 billion XRP in June 2025 to 32.9 billion XRP today. That means roughly 3.3 billion XRP has been removed from escrow over the past year. Currently, XRP’s circulating supply is over 62 billion tokens, compared to 58.93 billion XRP.

Data from Whale Alert indicates Ripple has largely maintained its recent strategy of re-locking between 700 million and 900 million XRP each month. Specifically, the company re-locked 700 million XRP in January, February, March, April, and May.

This suggests Ripple is retaining about 300 million XRP from each monthly release. The funds are typically used for operations, partnerships, liquidity programs, and ecosystem growth.

Current Pace Points to a 2035 Depletion Date

If Ripple continues using around 300 million XRP per month, its remaining 32.9 billion XRP escrow reserve would last about 109 to 110 months. That translates to roughly nine years, putting the projected depletion date around mid-2035.

The estimate aligns with earlier projections that suggested Ripple’s escrow holdings could last close to a decade under its current distribution strategy.

In a tweet, XRP advocate Bill Morgan said Ripple should reduce the amount it re-locks each month. Specifically, he called for the company to release 1 billion XRP each month and not lock so much back into escrow.

To him, the sooner all XRP is released from escrow and the circulating supply reaches 100%, the faster XRP will become “the best hard money,” Morgan said.

I know. Ripple should release more of the 1 billion each month and not lock so much back in escrow. The sooner it is all released from escrow and the circulating supply is 100% the quicker XRP will become the best hard money. https://t.co/cG1V6jEGTx

— bill morgan (@Belisarius2020) June 21, 2026

Higher Usage Would Accelerate Escrow Depletion

Indeed, a higher monthly utilization rate would significantly shorten the timeline.

For example, if Ripple increased its monthly usage to 400 million XRP, the remaining escrow balance would be exhausted in about 82 months, or 6.8 years. That would bring the depletion date forward to early 2033.

If Ripple stopped re-locking XRP altogether and released the full 1 billion XRP every month, the escrow would be depleted in roughly 33 months, or less than three years.