Ripple (XRP) Momentum Cools as 1 Billion Token Release Approaches This Week

Key Takeaways

• XRP climbed 50% before reversing course, currently hovering near $1.44
• Ripple’s scheduled release of 1 billion XRP from escrow set for September 1
• Technical analysis suggests potential retracement to $1.10–$1.38 support zone
• Major holders extracted 231 million XRP from Binance in the biggest withdrawal since March
• Senate vote on CLARITY Act scheduled for September 15 may affect Ripple’s token distribution strategy

XRP experienced a dramatic price surge throughout the previous week, climbing approximately 46% over seven trading sessions and momentarily reaching $1.69. Beginning the week of August 19 at $1.0014, the digital asset peaked at nearly 48% above its opening price.

The price movement coincided with a high-profile White House gathering where President Trump met with cryptocurrency sector executives, among them Ripple’s CEO Brad Garlinghouse. During the meeting, Trump publicly urged Congressional action on the CLARITY Act, legislation designed to split regulatory authority over digital assets between the SEC and CFTC.

During its upward trajectory, XRP’s total market capitalization exceeded $91 billion, temporarily elevating the token among the four largest cryptocurrencies by valuation.

However, the bullish momentum has since cooled considerably. The asset has declined approximately 12% from its seven-day peak. At the latest daily settlement, XRP closed at $1.4554, representing its second consecutive session of losses.

Technical Expert Highlights Critical Support Zones

A market analyst characterized the current price action as a “pullback after a strong rally and rejection from $1.66 resistance.” According to this assessment, a decline toward the $1.10–$1.38 price corridor would maintain the broader uptrend structure.

Should these support levels prove resilient, the analyst projects subsequent resistance targets at $1.66, $1.93, and $2.25 for any renewed upward movement.

Large holder movements have also captured market attention. CryptoQuant tracking data revealed that major investors withdrew 231 million XRP from the Binance exchange—representing the most substantial outflow recorded in half a year. Whale Insider shared on X: “JUST IN: Whales pulled 231 million $XRP from Binance, the largest outflow in six months.” Substantial withdrawals from exchanges typically signal that investors are transferring holdings to private wallets for long-term storage rather than positioning for immediate sales.

Scheduled Token Release Draws Market Attention

Market participants are closely monitoring September 1, when Ripple’s programmed monthly release of 1 billion XRP from escrow becomes due. Historical patterns show that Ripple typically returns the majority of these monthly releases back into escrow rather than introducing them to circulating supply.

The Senate has calendared a procedural cloture vote on the CLARITY Act for September 15, following lawmakers’ return from their legislative break. Should the measure progress, Ripple has suggested it might circulate additional XRP from its escrow holdings to facilitate stablecoin liquidity and international currency trading pairs.

In related regulatory developments, the SEC has approved a registration filing for the Cryptex Digital Market Cap ETF, which purportedly holds a 4.88% position in XRP, with details allegedly supplied by Ripple Labs.

Derivative market data shows liquidation clusters accumulating around $1.55 and within the $1.42 to $1.45 range, price points that traders are monitoring carefully as the unlock date approaches.