Ripple is set to unlock 1 billion XRP from escrow on Sunday, November 1, 2026, according to its monthly release schedule. The event is worth watching, but it does not mean the company will sell the tokens. A scheduled date is not the same as a completed transfer, and it is certainly not a confirmed sale.
Escrow release still needs a transaction
The release involves two escrow accounts, each holding 500 million XRP. To move the tokens, Ripple must submit an EscrowFinish transaction. Until that happens, the unlock remains a scheduled step rather than a final one. That distinction matters because headlines often treat every large token movement as selling pressure before any coins move.
On-chain data adds another wrinkle. As of October 29, two Ripple-controlled wallets each still held 500 million XRP from the previous October 1 release. Neither wallet had recorded an outgoing payment since receiving those tokens. So Ripple could have access to another 1 billion XRP while the earlier allocation sits in its wallets. That may raise questions about timing, though it does not prove a plan to sell.
Ripple has returned most XRP to escrow
Ripple started the escrow program in December 2017. It placed 55 billion XRP, or 55% of the maximum 100 billion supply, into time-locked contracts. The design was meant to make supply more predictable through monthly releases of up to 1 billion tokens. Unused amounts go back into new escrow contracts instead of entering circulation right away.
Recent releases have mostly followed that pattern. On-chain tracking shows Ripple re-locked about 700 million XRP, or 70% of each monthly release, over the 12 months through October 2026. That left roughly 300 million XRP outside escrow each month for operations, liquidity, and network activities. This history is a main reason to treat the November unlock as routine, at least for now.
Market backdrop is weak
The unlock comes during a rough stretch for XRP. U.S. spot XRP ETFs recorded $3.61 million in outflows in the week leading up to October 29, a sign that institutional demand may be cooling.
Large holders, however, keep accumulating. Wallets holding at least 10 million XRP controlled 46.87 billion tokens, or about 68.5% of circulating supply, according to Finbold. That suggests some big investors are looking past the short-term price action.
At press time, XRP traded at $1.24, down about 0.9% in 24 hours and more than 2% over the week. It sits below its 50-day simple moving average of $1.39 and its 200-day average of $1.28. The 14-day Relative Strength Index was 37.46, which points to weak momentum but remains above the oversold level of 30. A recovery in buying pressure could help XRP test the $1.28 area again, perhaps, but the token still looks vulnerable to more downside.
