Ripple CTO David Schwartz said the company is considering whether to sell or transfer the rights to receive XRP currently locked in escrow accounts. He stressed that these rights are not freely transferable by outside parties: only Ripple can sell them, and any transfer would require the company’s approval.
The comments came during a community discussion in which software engineer Vincent Van Code raised questions about how XRP’s circulating supply is presented relative to Bitcoin. He argued that XRP held in escrow is typically excluded from market capitalization calculations, while Bitcoin associated with Satoshi’s wallet is generally still viewed within the broader supply framework, even if those coins remain untouched.
Debate centers on supply reporting
The discussion highlights a long-running issue around the distinction between control, accessibility, and circulation. Van Code suggested that excluding escrowed XRP from certain reporting methods may shape how investors perceive XRP’s market cap. Schwartz’s response clarified that the rights tied to escrowed XRP remain under Ripple’s control, reinforcing that any disposition of those rights would be a corporate decision rather than an open-market process.
Schwartz also said he plans to step down at the end of the year. That added another layer of attention to his remarks, as market participants assess what any future move involving escrow rights could mean for Ripple’s treasury management and token supply narrative.
No concrete sale plan announced yet
At this stage, Ripple has not disclosed a timeline, structure, or counterparties for any potential transaction. What is clear is that the company is evaluating the option, but no specific execution details have been made public. For now, the main market focus is on supply structure, circulating metrics, and market cap interpretation, rather than on any confirmed release of XRP into the market.
Until Ripple provides further details, the broader implications for valuation and investor perception remain uncertain.