Insight into Chris Larsen’s Recent XRP Movements
The world of cryptocurrency is ever-evolving, and recent developments surrounding Ripple and its executive chairman, Chris Larsen, have caught the attention of many. According to public ledger data analyzed by on-chain investigator ZachXBT, Larsen has accelerated his distribution of personal XRP holdings, transferring an estimated $200 million since July 17. This substantial movement has sparked discussions and analyses within the crypto community.
Significant XRP Transfers Unveiled
On July 17, an address associated with Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen reportedly moved 50 million XRP, equivalent to approximately $175 million, to four distinct addresses. Of this, about $140 million was directed towards various exchanges. ZachXBT, the investigator who flagged these transactions, provided insights into the destination addresses for the largest transfers.
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Further transactions noted by analysts at CryptoQuant increased the 10-day transfer total to around 57 million XRP, pushing the dollar outflows beyond the $200 million threshold based on Thursday’s average price. These transfers coincided with a decline in XRP’s value, which had fallen from a recent peak of $3.66 to an intraday low near $2.95 before stabilizing above $3.00. Although correlation does not imply causation, the timing of these transfers has raised eyebrows. On-chain analyst JA Maartun cautioned followers, suggesting that Larsen had offloaded approximately $200 million in XRP over the past 10 days, urging caution among investors.
Current Holdings and Market Impact
Blockchain forensics firm Lookonchain corroborated ZachXBT’s findings, estimating that wallets attributed to Larsen still hold about 2.81 billion XRP. ZachXBT confirmed these figures, indicating that even after recent sales, Larsen remains a significant potential source of XRP supply. As such, the market impact of his holdings continues to be a point of interest.
The Genesis of Ripple’s “Founders Reward”
In the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s 2020 enforcement action against Ripple, court documents provide detailed insights into the initial allocation of XRP. When the XRP Ledger was finalized in December 2012, its fixed supply of 100 billion tokens was allocated, with 80 billion designated for Ripple and the remaining 20 billion for the three founders as compensation. Chris Larsen and fellow co-founder Jed McCaleb each received nine billion XRP, while early engineer Arthur Britto was awarded two billion.
Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple’s current CEO, did not receive a “founders reward.” Instead, Ripple’s board granted him 500 million XRP when he assumed the role of CEO on December 13, 2016, followed by an additional 250 million on May 29, 2019. By the time the SEC filed its complaint, Garlinghouse had received 521 million of these tokens, valued at approximately $246 million back then.
Assessing the Wealth of Ripple’s Founders
A December 2024 Forbes analysis estimated Chris Larsen’s net worth at $9.2 billion, with roughly half of his fortune denominated in XRP. Jed McCaleb, who completed the liquidation of his “Tacostand” wallets in 2022, was valued at $2.9 billion in Forbes’ April 2025 Billionaires ranking. Arthur Britto’s wealth remains shrouded in mystery, as he avoids publicity, but retaining his full two-billion-token grant would equate to about $6.2 billion at current valuations. No reputable publication has ventured a precise estimate of his wealth.
In March of this year, Fox Business journalist Charles Gasparino estimated Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse’s net worth at approximately $10 billion, positioning him among the wealthiest individuals in the United States.
Current Market Status
As of the latest updates, XRP is trading at $3.11, maintaining its position above key support levels. These developments underscore the dynamic nature of the cryptocurrency market and the impact of influential figures within it.
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