TLDR
- SBI Holdings transferred $703 million worth of XRP on June 30.
- The transaction took place one day before Ripple’s scheduled 1 billion XRP escrow unlock.
- Whale Alert identified three large transactions involving a total of 640 million XRP.
- The destination wallet for one major transfer was newly created on the same day.
- Analysts believe the transfer may relate to custodial restructuring or institutional positioning.
SBI Holdings, a key Ripple partner, transferred $703 million worth of XRP on June 30. The move occurred one day before Ripple’s scheduled 1 billion XRP escrow unlock. The transaction involved multiple wallets and has generated speculation about possible strategic intentions.
Massive XRP Transfer Draws Attention Ahead of Escrow Release
SBI VC Trade, a subsidiary of SBI Holdings, initiated a 320 million XRP transfer, tracked by Whale Alert. The source wallet, identified as rNR…6jS, sent the funds to a new wallet r9z…RCZ created on June 30. Two additional transactions of 160 million XRP were directed to separate addresses.
🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨 320,000,000 #XRP (703,517,724 USD) transferred from unknown wallet to unknown wallethttps://t.co/EzDk6g8ZUw
— Whale Alert (@whale_alert) June 30, 2025
This series of large-scale transfers came just before Ripple’s monthly release of 1 billion XRP from its escrow account. The July 1 release continues Ripple’s schedule, which has been active since 2017, where tokens are unlocked monthly. Ripple previously unlocked 1 billion XRP in June, valued at $2.21 billion.
The coordination between SBI’s transfer and Ripple’s escrow unlock has raised questions regarding the intent behind the move. Analysts note the possibility of custodial restructuring or institutional preparation. The use of a new wallet adds weight to the theory of internal strategic allocation.
SBI Holdings’ Role Signals Institutional Strategy
SBI Holdings continues to strengthen its XRP operations as part of its broader digital asset strategy. Its use of XRP as a bridge currency is central to its payment systems in Asia. Japan’s regulatory clarity further enables SBI to expand with crypto assets like XRP.
The $703 million XRP transaction is likely part of internal treasury adjustments linked to its growing crypto service portfolio. The timing implies a structured move aimed at improving custodial flow before the next wave of unlocked XRP. As Japan maintains its regulatory distinction of XRP as a crypto asset, SBI faces fewer legal constraints than U.S. firms.
With rising institutional activity, XRP’s role in cross-border transactions is increasing across Asian markets. SBI’s alignment with Ripple provides infrastructure to support this shift. Its consistent XRP usage further supports strategic and long-term adoption across financial networks.
SBI VC Trade plays a critical role in managing liquidity across digital assets for SBI Holdings. These large-scale XRP transactions reflect a robust system for institutional-level digital asset movement. The move may serve future service integrations or custody framework expansion for XRP-based applications.
XRP Price Rises After SBI Transfer
Following SBI’s transfer, the XRP price rose 2.5% over the past week despite a brief 24-hour dip. Trading volume surged 37%, reaching $1.91 billion, suggesting increased activity around XRP. Market response remains stable, showing neutral to positive sentiment.
The timing of SBI’s transaction did not trigger negative market movements or widespread panic. Instead, investors observed slight price improvement and elevated volume across exchanges. This suggests confidence in SBI’s operational transparency and Ripple’s consistent escrow policy.
SBI’s use of a new wallet indicates systematic planning rather than spontaneous fund movement. The overall structure of transactions supports theories of internal reallocation. Market dynamics indicate support for XRP despite large-scale shifts in token locations.
