Is Ripple Co-Founder the Biggest Risk to XRP Price?

XRP dropped over 11% from its July 17 high of $3.65 after Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen transferred 50 million XRP to several addresses. 

Blockchain sleuth ZachXBT reported that approximately $140 million worth of those tokens landed on centralized exchanges or off-ramp services.

Chart Shows Clear On-Chain Correlation With XRP Price Drop

The move sparked market volatility and renewed scrutiny of founder-linked wallets.

According to on-chain data from CryptoQuant, Larsen’s wallet activity spiked between July 17 and July 24, coinciding with XRP’s peak and subsequent decline. 

The wallet’s cumulative balance dropped significantly during this period.

Meanwhile, XRP’s price reacted quickly. The altcoin fell from its local top near $3.65 to just under $3.25 before partially recovering.

This trend echoes behavior seen during previous market cycles. Most notably, the 2017–2018 bull run, when founder wallet outflows aligned with price tops.

Also, on-chain data shows that Larsen-linked wallets still control over 2.81 billion XRP. The balance is worth around $8.4 billion at current prices. 

This creates a structural overhang for the token, especially if additional sales occur on open markets.

The timing of these transfers—just days after XRP’s all-time high—suggests a deliberate profit-taking strategy.

2012 Agreement Reveals Early XRP Allocation Details

Adding further context, a 2012 agreement between Ripple’s founders—Chris Larsen, Jed McCaleb, and Arthur Britto—recently resurfaced on social media. 

The document confirms that Britto was granted 2% of all XRP (then called Ripple Credits).

It also gave him lifetime rights to develop on the Ripple protocol, without company approval.

This agreement highlights the centralized distribution of XRP at inception. It also reinforces ongoing concerns about the concentration of supply among early insiders.

Insider Activity Draws Comparisons to 2018 Market Behavior

The timing and scale of Larsen’s transfers are significant. On-chain charts show that the last major outflows from this wallet occurred near XRP’s historic 2018 top.

That historical context adds weight to concerns about insider-driven price suppression.

Still, the XRP market has shown resilience. Despite the sell-off, XRP remains one of the best-performing large-cap tokens this quarter.

While short-term selling pressure triggered the recent dip, technical indicators show strong support near $3. Traders now watch for a confirmed rebound past the $3.40–$3.50 range.

However, market sentiment may remain cautious due to the visible influence of founder activity.

If future sales are routed through OTC or institutional desks, the impact may be mitigated.

With billions in supply still under founder control, future price action may depend on transparency and responsible management of these assets.