📅 July 17, 2025 | San Francisco, USA
A transfer that set off all the crypto alarms: Chris Larsen, co-founder of Ripple and one of the largest individual holders of XRP, has just moved nearly $30 million in tokens to Coinbase, just as XRP approaches its all-time high. The news, confirmed today by The Block, is reigniting speculation: Is Larsen planning to liquidate part of his treasury to capitalize on the bullish streak? Or is this a tactical move to cover expenses or larger investments?
Why does this move matter so much?
Since Ripple gained traction as an alternative for fast and cheap cross-border payments, Chris Larsen has become a key figure. His fortune is closely tied to the price of XRP, and his wallet movements always generate a domino effect of rumors, FUD, and speculation.
According to on-chain data reported by The Block, Larsen transferred approximately 50 million XRP, valued at nearly $30 million, from a personal wallet to a verified Coinbase account. Given that Coinbase is one of the most liquid exchanges for XRP in the US, the most obvious interpretation is that the tokens could end up being sold on the open market, something that has historically pushed the price down.
For many investors, the sign is worrying: XRP is less than 5% away from surpassing its all-time high, driven by record flows in derivatives, ETF rumors, and a renewed wave of institutional adoption. A high-profile sell-off at this point could cap the rally, or at least trigger a sharp correction.
Larsen, Ripple, and the Shadow of Strategic Selling
This isn't Chris Larsen's first move to generate buzz. For years, he and other Ripple co-founders have faced criticism for gradually liquidating part of their XRP holdings to diversify their assets. Although there is nothing legally wrong—Ripple has repeatedly clarified that these sales are planned and transparent—for retail traders, each large transfer is still interpreted as a "jumping the boat."
Sources close to the transaction cited by The Block indicate that Larsen could use part of these funds to invest in new blockchain startups, sustainability projects, or even to strengthen its legal structure against potential regulatory friction. But in crypto, the narrative rules: the mere idea of one of the biggest insiders selling tokens is enough to prompt traders to short-term bets against XRP.
Topic opinion:
Insider moves always shape the narrative, even if they are sometimes routine asset diversification decisions. With XRP, this is especially sensitive because its history is fraught with lawsuits, speculation, and extreme volatility.
If Larsen sells now, it might make sense: the token is hovering around an all-time high, and Ripple has consolidated its ecosystem beyond regulatory concerns. The key is not to panic: transferring doesn't always mean selling immediately. But the market, as we know, doesn't forgive ambiguous signals.
💬Do you think Larsen is just diversifying or is he about to dump tokens en masse? Are you worried that Ripple insiders could slow down XRP's rally?
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