- Viral post claims XRP price suppression via Ripple sales; community debates validity without concrete evidence.
- Attorney Morgan refutes claims: Ripple holds 58.5% in circulation, escrow sales too small to manipulate prices.
A social media post alleging suppressed price activity for XRP beyond ongoing regulatory challenges has sparked renewed discussions within the crypto community. The post, which circulated widely on May 5, 2025, suggested Ripple’s monthly token sales, unusual network behavior, and historical price trends—including its 2017 rally—pointed to potential manipulation. Critics dismissed the claims as speculative, while others demanded scrutiny.
This post in the thread is over generalised to begin with. Firstly, Ripple does not own 43% of supply. even @CoinMarketCap publishes that the circulating supply (excluding what ripple holes outside escrow) is 58.5%.
Secondly, what Ripple releases from escrow and sells each month… https://t.co/XnTBuHaZJ7
— bill morgan (@Belisarius2020) May 5, 2025
The post asserted Ripple controls 43% of XRP’s supply, influencing prices through strategic sales. It cited a study linking XRP’s transaction network patterns to negative price performance, implying artificial suppression. These claims gained traction among retail investors, reviving long-standing concerns about Ripple’s market impact.
Legal Expert Counters Misinformation
Attorney Bill Morgan, a vocal XRP advocate, refuted the claims. He clarified that Ripple holds XRP in escrow, with circulating supply at 58.5%—not 43%—per CoinMarketCap data. Monthly escrow releases account for a fraction of trading volume, Morgan noted, minimizing price impact. “Ripple’s sales are too small to sway markets” he stated, referencing evidence from the SEC lawsuit where Ripple disclosed measures to stabilize prices, including escrow locks.
Morgan also highlighted the SEC’s 18-month pre-lawsuit investigation, which found no proof of manipulation. “If suppression existed, regulators would have used it in court” he argued.
XRP’s Market Behavior Mirrors Broader Trends
Morgan emphasized that XRP’s price movements align with Bitcoin and Ethereum, a pattern consistent since 2021. Data shows XRP rallies and corrections often coincide with market-wide trends, not isolated events. For instance, XRP rose 22% in April 2025 alongside major cryptocurrencies, later retracing as broader markets dipped.
The debate underscores tensions between retail speculation and institutional transparency. While viral theories attract attention, experts stress the need for evidence-based analysis. For XRP, the focus remains on the SEC case’s outcome and broader market.
XRP is trading at approximately $2.11 USD, reflecting a 24-hour decline of around 2.5%. The cryptocurrency has been under pressure, with recent price movements indicating a bearish trend.
Technical analysis reveals that XRP is forming a descending triangle pattern, a bearish indicator suggesting potential further declines. If the support level at $2.10 fails to hold, the price could drop to $2.00 or even $1.85.
Additionally, XRP is nearing a ‘death cross,’ where the 50-day moving average crosses below the 200-day moving average, reinforcing the bearish outlook.
Despite the bearish technical indicators, ETHNews analysts maintain a bullish long-term perspective. They argue that if XRP holds above the $2.00 support level, it could rally to $12, especially if there is increased adoption by banks and financial institutions.
