A total of 1 billion XRP has just been released from escrow in a series of large transactions reported within hours. According to Whale Alert, 500 million XRP were unlocked from escrow, reportedly at Ripple, alongside another 400 million XRP and 100 million XRP from unknown wallets.
However, on-chain data from XRP Ledger tells a different story. The largest release, involving 500 million XRP, includes an escrow note that clearly states, “This Escrow release was not initiated by the Escrow owner.”
That information disagrees with Whale Alert’s interpretation and substantiates that the release was done by a third party using EscrowFinish, which is possible only under certain conditions on the XRP Ledger.
Highlighted in a post by @Xaif_Crypto, the transaction screenshot quickly drew attention to the fact that the escrow release was not initiated by its owner. According to the post, anyone can set off escrow releases when the predetermined requirements are met.
This led to many discussions among XRP users about the way control is managed and how open escrow transactions are.
Also Read: XRP Ledger to Support Token Escrows and MPTs in Major Upcoming Upgrade
🚨BREAKING: 500,000,000 $XRP just released from escrow — NOT by the owner! 👀
📌 Anyone can now trigger escrow releases?!
📌 Massive funds unlocked.
📌 Just as @FlareNetworks builds DeFi for $XRP using $0 USD on Flare! 😮💨
Something BIG is happening in the #XRP ecosystem… pic.twitter.com/MU97hy0Tvl— 𝕏aif🇮🇳|🇺🇸 (@Xaif_Crypto) June 5, 2025
Escrow Mechanics Questioned Amid Timing with Flare DeFi Push
The screenshot shared in the post also reveals an advertisement banner stating: “Flare is building the DeFi ecosystem for XRP, with USD₮0 on Flare as the essential capital base.” This indicates the release coincides with Flare Networks’ ongoing DeFi initiatives, suggesting possible strategic alignment, though no direct link has been confirmed.
The XRP Ledger’s EscrowFinish transaction type allows any account to complete an escrow as long as conditions are met. This is not considered a breach or vulnerability, but the size and timing of the action are cause for concern.
The 500 million XRP was distributed using ledger ID 96,592,853, and only a tiny amount of 0.000012 XRP was paid as a fee.
Still, the recent release of half a billion XRP by a mysterious person and Whale Alert pointing to Ripple has left many confused. The lack of match between public statements and blockchain data highlights the need to rely on ledger verification.
With 1 billion XRP now in circulation from recent escrow unlocks—partly triggered by unknown actors—the market and XRP community are closely monitoring developments. Flare’s move into DeFi has attracted even more interest.
When organizations rely more on decentralization, having clear rules for escrow will become more important.
Also Read: Ripple (XRP) Co-Founder Could Be the World’s First Trillionaire if This Happens
