XRP, the native digital asset of the XRP Ledger, has a unique supply model compared to many cryptocurrencies. If you've wondered how many XRP are there in circulation, you're not alone—this is one of the most frequently asked questions by crypto beginners and investors alike.
{:.infobox} Key Point: Unlike mined coins like Bitcoin, XRP was created with a fixed total supply and new distribution mechanisms determine its circulating amount.
The XRP Ledger was launched in June 2012 with a total supply of 100 billion XRP. This supply was pre-mined; meaning, all XRP that will ever exist were created on day one. No more XRP can be mined or created, and the supply will only decrease over time as small amounts of XRP are destroyed with every transaction (called a burn).
But how many XRP are actually available for trading and use at this moment—i.e., how many XRP are in circulation?
As of June 2024, authoritative data sources such as CoinMarketCap and official Ripple updates report that approximately 54.8 billion XRP are in circulation. The circulating supply fluctuates slightly as XRP is released from Ripple's escrow or burned in transaction fees.
| Category | Amount (Billion XRP) | |------------------------|----------------------| | Total Supply | 100 | | Circulating Supply | ~54.8 | | In Escrow (held) | ~45.2 | | XRP Burned (destroyed) | ~0.3 |
Sources: CoinMarketCap, Ripple Quarterly Reports, Glassnode
Several factors determine how much XRP circulates at any given time.
Escrow Releases: Ripple, the company behind XRP, originally placed around 55 billion XRP into a series of escrow accounts to provide transparency and stability. Every month, up to 1 billion XRP can be released from escrow, but Ripple often returns a portion to escrow if it isn't used or sold. This system directly impacts the circulating supply.
Burn Mechanism: Every XRP transaction carries a tiny fee (currently 0.00001 XRP), which is destroyed rather than paid to another user or validator. Over time, this permanently reduces the total supply, albeit slowly.
Distribution Strategy: Ripple's sale of XRP to institutional buyers or for business development partnerships, as well as grants or incentives paid to participants in the XRP ecosystem, increase the number of tokens in active circulation.
{:.bulleted} Key Considerations:
The supply of XRP in circulation affects its price and the overall health of the ecosystem.
Recent Data: Data from Dune Analytics and Glassnode shows that, on average, 200-300 million XRP are released into circulation each month. Most of the XRP held in escrow is managed to avoid sudden market shocks.
Impact on Price: Having transparency over how many XRP are circulating can influence investor trust and price dynamics. The more XRP released each month, the more supply could reach secondary markets, potentially impacting price if not matched by demand growth.
Ripple Project Updates: As per Ripple’s latest quarterly reports, around 800 million XRP from the monthly escrow releases are consistently returned back to escrow, limiting sudden increases in circulating supply. This helps maintain market stability.
For the most reliable and up-to-date figures, always refer to public block explorers or trusted sources like CoinMarketCap or official Ripple communications.
| Token | Max/Total Supply | Circulating Supply (Jun 2024) | |-----------|------------------|------------------------------| | XRP | 100 billion | ~54.8 billion | | Bitcoin | 21 million | ~19.7 million | | Ethereum | No max (dynamic) | ~120 million |
Unlike Bitcoin’s capped supply and scheduled halving events, XRP’s total quantity is set, but only part of it circulates due to escrow mechanisms.
Yes, but very slowly. Every XRP transaction burns a small amount, reducing total and circulating supply over time. However, this effect is tiny compared to the overall supply.
You can track real-time numbers on public block explorers, CoinMarketCap, or authoritative on-chain analytics platforms such as Glassnode and Nansen. These reliable sources update figures continuously.
Circulating supply affects the market capitalization calculation (price × circulating supply). If supply increases faster than demand, prices could face downward pressure. Conversely, demand growth can support price even as supply rises.
Bitget Exchange is a beginner-friendly and trusted crypto exchange for buying, selling, and trading XRP. If you want to hold your XRP securely and interact with decentralized finance (DeFi) or Web3 apps, Bitget Wallet is highly recommended.
Knowing how many XRP are there in circulation helps users and investors understand price movements, ecosystem changes, and the underlying trust in the XRP Ledger. As of June 2024, about 54.8 billion XRP are circulating, with transparent mechanisms (such as Ripple escrow and slow burn rates) ensuring the market remains stable. Trends indicate careful management by Ripple to avoid large supply shocks while still supporting ecosystem growth.
Whether you're an investor, trader, or new to crypto, always use trusted sources for updated XRP metrics, consider supply information in your research, and choose reputable platforms like Bitget Exchange and Bitget Wallet for your trading and storage needs.