Ripple CTO David Schwartz confirms XRP escrow releases always occur on the first of each month, quashing speculation around timing anomalies.
Key Takeaways
- Ripple CTO David Schwartz clarified all XRP escrow releases occur on the first day of each month, regardless of when transactions appear on-ledger.
- The XRP Ledger doesn’t process escrowed tokens until someone submits a transaction, so visible movement may lag behind the actual release.
- Despite the clarification, XRP’s price shows only modest change, holding steady in the $3.19 range as of writing.
Following increasing XRP community chatter about irregular escrow release dates, Ripple CTO David Schwartz posted on X on August 9, 2025, to address the issue. A user questioned why the last couple of escrow unlocks appeared on unexpected dates, speculating on Ripple’s ability to manipulate release timing. Schwartz directly responded, stating that escrow releases always occur on the first day of the month.
They always release on the first day of the month. You may not necessarily see any on-ledger activity just because the escrow has released though. The ledger doesn't do anything by itself, it always waits for someone to submit a transaction to trigger it.
Photo: Screenshot of David Schwartz’s response in X regarding the escrow timing rumors.
How the XRP Ledger Handles Escrow Releases
The confusion stems from how the XRP Ledger operates. While escrow releases technically happen on the first day of each month, the tokens remain invisible until a triggering transaction is submitted. This delay can lead some to assume irregular release schedules, especially when large amounts move days later.
Escrow Holdings Still Substantial
Following recent releases, Ripple retains around 35.608 billion XRP in escrow, according to XRPscan. This amount represents a large portion of XRP’s circulating supply dynamics and is closely monitored by traders.
Market Holds Steady Despite Clarification
As of writing (1:30 PM UTC), the price of XRP is $3.17, down about 0.047% in the past 24 hours, with an intraday high of $3.32 and low of $3.16, according to TradingView. RSI (14) stands at 57.3, indicating neutral momentum.
The discussion appears to have had little effect on market sentiment, with no significant increase in trading volume or volatility observed.
What’s Next
By addressing speculation head-on, Ripple’s CTO reaffirmed the predictability of XRP’s escrow schedule. The technical explanation of on-chain visibility should reduce misunderstandings among traders. Future deviations from the first-of-month pattern, or shifts in crypto investment sentiment, could be market-moving events to watch.
Summary
Ripple CTO David Schwartz confirmed that XRP escrow releases always occur on the first of the month, explaining that delays in visible transactions are due to the XRP Ledger’s processing mechanics. XRP’s price has remained stable near $3.17 despite the clarification.
