Prominent XRP commentator Bill Morgan has urged Ripple to accelerate the release of escrowed tokens, arguing that locking back most of the monthly unlocked supply prolongs uncertainty. In a post on X, Morgan said Ripple should distribute more of the 1 billion XRP unlocked each month and re-lock a smaller portion to bring the asset closer to full circulation sooner.
Monthly Unlocks, Massive Re-locks
Ripple's escrow program automatically releases 1 billion XRP on the first day of every month. However, the company routinely returns a large percentage to escrow after covering operational and institutional needs. Estimates suggest that at the current pace, Ripple's remaining 38.15 billion XRP in escrow could take nearly nine years to fully distribute. The exact timeline fluctuates because the re-locked amount varies month to month.
On June 1, Ripple unlocked 1 billion XRP valued at over $1.33 billion across three transactions, but later returned a substantial share to escrow. Currently, approximately 61.85 billion XRP are in circulation, while Ripple controls about 38.15 billion XRP through escrow.
Community Split Over Pace
Morgan's comments reignited debate among XRP holders. Some back the gradual approach, fearing a sudden supply glut; others side with Morgan, arguing that faster distribution would let XRP’s price better reflect real adoption. Earlier proposals to burn the escrow reserve were rejected by Ripple CTO emeritus David Schwartz, who cited Stellar's token burn as a temporary market gimmick with no lasting effect.
Schwartz has defended the re-lock mechanism, stating that Ripple voluntarily returns tokens it doesn't immediately need for business operations, ensuring supply predictability. The current system has been running for years, with only a small net addition to circulation each month.
Morgan stressed on X that Ripple should release surplus tokens rather than repeatedly re-lock them, arguing that reaching full circulation sooner could strengthen XRP's standing in the crypto market. Ripple has not yet officially responded to the latest call.