Ripple still controls nearly 42% of the XRP supply through escrow and operational wallets.
Top exchanges like Binance and Bithumb each hold close to 1.8 billion XRP.
Institutions such as SBI Holdings now manage multi-billion-dollar XRP treasury positions.
XRP, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrencies, trades above the $2 level in early 2026. This renewed market momentum has shifted attention back to one of the most debated topics in the Ripple community: ownership concentration. Understanding who controls the token’s supply is important for investors. It would help them check XRP’s liquidity, volatility, and long-term price behavior.
Unlike many blockchains, the XRP Ledger offers full transparency into wallet balances. This makes it possible to find out how tokens are distributed among Ripple Labs, exchanges, institutions, founders, and anonymous whales.
XRP launched in 2012 with a full supply of 100 billion tokens created at launch. There is no mining or staking mechanism. So, distribution depends on allocation, escrow releases, and market transfers rather than ongoing issuance.
This structure has resulted in a clear hierarchy of holders. Data from on-chain analytics shows that the maximum XRP ownership is held by whales, including institutional buyers, Ripple founders, and others. However, millions of smaller wallets still contribute to daily activity and adoption.
Before we delve further into the ownership details, here is a quick glance at the top XRP holders for 2026, based on the latest market data available at the time of writing.
| XRP Holder Category | Estimated Holdings (XRP) | % of Total Supply | Primary Role / Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ripple Labs (Escrow) | ~45 Billion | 45% | Long-term supply stability and monthly releases. |
| Ripple Labs (Operational) | ~1 Billion | 1% | Used for ecosystem growth and RippleNet liquidity. |
| Top Exchanges (Binance, Bithumb) | ~3.6 Billion (Combined) | 3.60% | Custodial storage for millions of retail traders. |
| Chris Larsen (Co-Founder) | 2.5 – 2.7 Billion | ~4.6% | Largest individual stakeholder (identified). |
| Institutional Treasuries (SBI, etc.) | ~5 Billion+ | 5%+ | Strategic settlement reserves for banking partners. |
| Anonymous Whales | ~2 Billion (Top 2 wallets) | 2% | Large, unidentified market movers. |
| Retail & Smaller Wallets | ~38 - 42 Billion | 38-42% | Circulating supply used for daily transactions and DEX activity. |
Scroll down to find in-depth information on the above-mentioned elements of the XRP rich list for 2026!
Ripple Labs is the single most influential holder of XRP. Wallets linked to the company hold most of the top positions on the XRP rich list. In total, Ripple controls close to 42% of the total XRP supply.
Roughly 45 billion XRP are locked in escrow contracts, while about 1 billion XRP are held outside escrow for operational needs. Each month, up to 1 billion XRP is unlocked, with unused amounts returned to escrow. This predictable release model plays a central role in XRP’s supply dynamics and distinguishes it from assets with opaque token issuance.
Also Read: How Is Ripple Labs Taking on Traditional Finance After Conquering Crypto?
The largest non-Ripple XRP wallets belong to centralized exchanges. These hold XRP on behalf of users instead of as proprietary assets.
Binance is the biggest holder. The crypto exchange’s wallet has about 1.7-1.8 billion XRP. South Korea’s Bithumb follows closely with around 1.8 billion XRP after increasing its balance by roughly 30% in 2025. Uphold and Upbit also rank among the top custodians.
These exchange balances are important for liquidity. High reserves allow for smoother trading, faster settlement, and tighter spreads. However, they also suggest that sudden movements of funds can affect short-term price action.
When it comes to individual holders, Ripple co-founder and executive chairman Chris Larsen stands out. Publicly linked wallets associated with Larsen have an estimated 2.5 to 2.7 billion XRP, hence, roughly 4-5% of the total supply. Reports suggest that the co-founder has realized over $760 million in profits since 2018. Although exact figures fluctuate with market prices.
Brad Garlinghouse is also suspected of having one of the largest personal XRP holdings. However, these are not publicly disclosed, which is common for executives managing multiple wallet structures.
Jed McCaleb, another Ripple co-founder, was given 9 billion XRP in 2012. He completed the sale of his XRP holdings after leaving the company in 2014 for around $3.2 billion. His exit removed market pressure and simplified ownership dynamics.
Beyond known entities, many large XRP wallets are unidentified. The largest anonymous address holds approximately 1.2 billion XRP. Meanwhile, another controls more than 700 million XRP. Blockchain data reveals balances but not identities, leaving open whether these wallets belong to institutions, funds, or private long-term investors.
Depending on methodology, the top 50 XRP wallets control between 43% and 50% of the circulating supply. Moving towards the top 100 wallets pushes that figure to nearly 68%, placing XRP among the more concentrated large-cap cryptocurrencies.
Regulatory clarity following Ripple’s 2025 legal resolution has increased institutional involvement. Corporate treasury strategies involving XRP have emerged, especially in Asia.
SBI Holdings of Japan is the most famous corporate holder, with its XRP exposure estimated at around $10.4 billion. Other firms, such as Trident Digital Tech (planned $500 million allocation), Webus International (~$300 million), and VivoPower International (~$100 million), have announced XRP treasury initiatives tied to settlement and liquidity strategies.
Large holders can influence market structure, while the steady growth in smaller wallets points to ongoing adoption. In 2026, XRP’s ownership profile reflects a balance between Ripple’s escrow-controlled supply, exchange-driven liquidity, and rising institutional participation. As XRP’s role in payments and regulated financial products expands, the rich list remains a key tool for understanding who holds influence in the Ripple network.
Also Read: XRP Price Consolidates Near $2 as Channel Resistance Limits Upside Momentum
The XRP rich list of 2026 reflects a unique structure. Ripple controls the supply framework through escrow, exchanges dominate custody and liquidity, and large holders, both known and anonymous, continue to influence market behavior. At the same time, millions of smaller wallets show that XRP’s user base is broad. The institutional involvement and the token’s role in global payments. So, anyone who wants to invest in the token needs to keep an eye on XRP ownership as a key lens in the token’s next direction.
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1. Who Holds the Most XRP by 2026?
Ripple Labs is still the largest XRP holder (approximately 42% of the total XRP supply). The company has approximately 45 billion XRP in escrow and has approximately 1 billion XRP available for operational purposes.
2. How Much XRP Do Major Exchanges Hold?
Centralized exchanges hold large amounts of XRP on behalf of all their users. Two of the largest exchanges, Binance and Bithumb, hold approximately 1.7-1.8 billion XRP; therefore, they are the largest sources of liquidity for the XRP markets.
3. How Much XRP Does Chris Larsen Own?
Chris Larsen (Ripple co-founder) has approximately 2.5-2.7 billion XRP in his wallets. This amount is approximately 4-5% of the total XRP supply and makes Chris Larsen the largest identified individual holder of XRP.
4. What Role Do Anonymous XRP Whales Play?
Many large XRP wallets lack information available to the general public. The largest anonymous address holds approximately 1.2 billion XRP; these wallets can cause significant volatility when transferring large amounts of XRP.
5. Why is XRP Ownership Concentration Important?
XRP ownership concentration negatively affects liquidity, volatility, and public confidence within the market. The ability for individuals and organizational holders with significant amounts of XRP to quickly sell or purchase large quantities of XRP creates instability; whereas with the growth of retail and institutional investors, there will be increased long-term stability of XRP prices.