Overview of XRP Wealth Distribution
As of 2024, Ripple's founders, institutional entities, and major cryptocurrency exchanges dominate the XRP rich list, reflecting a concentrated ownership structure. The top 10 addresses control 20.22% of XRP’s circulating supply (11.1 billion XRP), valued at $6.8 billion. Meanwhile, addresses ranked 11–50 hold 28.16%, leaving 51.62% distributed among millions of smaller holders.
Key Statistics:
- Circulating Supply: 55.57 billion XRP (out of 100 billion total).
- Market Capitalization: $27 billion+.
- Top 50 Addresses: Combined holdings worth $17.2 billion.
This centralization highlights Ripple’s corporate influence and the role of exchanges like Binance and Upbit as custodial giants.
Who’s on the XRP Rich List?
The 2024 rich list features:
- Ripple’s Executive Team: Chris Larsen (~5 billion XRP) and Brad Garlinghouse (undisclosed holdings).
- Major Exchanges: Binance, Uphold, and Bitbank collectively hold over 4 billion XRP.
- Institutional Wallets: Ripple-controlled addresses (e.g., "Ripple #1" with 1.96 billion XRP).
Breakdown by Tier:
| Tier | Addresses | XRP Held | % of Supply |
|------|-----------|----------|-------------|
| Top 10 | 10 | 11.1B | 20.24% |
| 11–50 | 40 | 15.65B | 28.51% |
| Remaining | 4.8M+ | 28.12B | 51.24% |
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Top 10 XRP Addresses (2024)
- Ripple #1: 1.96B XRP (3.53%) – rMQ98K...1mu1
- Upbit: 1.65B XRP (2.96%)
- Binance #1: 1.48B XRP (2.66%)
- Ripple #2: 1.43B XRP (2.57%)
- Uphold #1: 1.04B XRP (1.87%)
- Uphold #2: 1.02B XRP (1.83%)
- Binance #2: 685M XRP (1.23%)
- Unknown #1: 685M XRP (1.23%)
- Unknown #2: 661M XRP (1.19%)
- Bitbank: 640M XRP (1.15%)
Note: Exchanges primarily hold XRP as user reserves.
Founders’ Holdings: Larsen, McCaleb, and Garlinghouse
- Initial Allocation: 20B XRP split among founders.
- Jed McCaleb: Sold 9B XRP by 2022 after leaving Ripple in 2014.
- Chris Larsen: Retains ~5B XRP (2.5B in known addresses).
- Brad Garlinghouse: Exact holdings undisclosed, but confirmed among top holders.
Legal Impact: SEC lawsuits have restricted founders’ ability to liquidate holdings, influencing XRP’s U.S. market liquidity.
XRP vs. Other Cryptocurrencies: Centralization Comparison
| Crypto | Top 10 Addresses (% Supply) | Key Holders |
|--------|-----------------------------|-------------|
| XRP | 20.2% | Ripple, exchanges |
| BTC | 5.3% | Satoshi, institutional funds |
| ETH | 34.7% | Staking contracts, whales |
| DOGE | 46.6% | Exchanges (e.g., Robinhood) |
| SOL | 10.8% | VC investors, stakers |
| ADA | 6.4% | Retail-dominated |
👉 Compare crypto market caps in real-time
FAQs
1. How much XRP do Ripple’s founders own?
Chris Larsen holds ~5B XRP; Brad Garlinghouse’s stake is undisclosed. Jed McCaleb sold his 9B XRP by 2022.
2. Why do exchanges dominate the XRP rich list?
Exchanges like Binance and Upbit custody XRP for users, pooling holdings into few addresses.
3. Is XRP more centralized than Bitcoin?
Yes. Bitcoin’s top 10 addresses hold 5.3% vs. XRP’s 20.2%, reflecting Ripple’s corporate structure.
4. What’s the impact of SEC lawsuits on XRP distribution?
Legal uncertainty has frozen founders’ sales and limited U.S. exchange support, reducing liquidity.
5. How does XRP’s distribution affect its price stability?
Large institutional holdings may reduce volatility but raise concerns about market manipulation.
Conclusion
XRP’s 2024 rich list reveals a blend of corporate control (Ripple, exchanges) and broad retail participation. While 20.2% of supply sits in the top 10 addresses, many are custodial, dispersing effective ownership. Compared to Bitcoin’s decentralization or Ethereum’s staking dominance, XRP occupies a middle ground—centralized yet institutionally backed, with real-world utility driving its long-term appeal.
For the latest XRP price updates and trading pairs, visit OKX.
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