Coinbase’s XRP Holdings Drop Nearly 90% Over Three Months, Could Indicate Off-Chain Transfers or Institutional Activity

• Coinbase XRP holdings fell ~89.79% in three months.

• Only six cold wallets remain active, each holding ~16.5 million XRP.

• XRP market capitalization remains ~ $183 billion despite large reserve outflows.

Coinbase XRP holdings plunged ~90% from 970M to 99M; read the data-driven update and implications for custody and market activity. Learn more.

Coinbase’s XRP reserves dropped from approximately 970 million to 99 million in three months, according to blockchain tracking and wallet analytics.

• Coinbase’s XRP reserves fell from 970 million to 99 million in three months, marking an 89.79% reduction.
• Only six cold wallets remain active at Coinbase, each holding approximately 16.5 million XRP.
• XRP’s market capitalization remains stable at $183 billion, despite Coinbase’s significant off-chain transfers.

What happened to Coinbase’s XRP holdings?

Coinbase XRP holdings fell from roughly 970 million XRP across 52 cold wallets in June to about 99 million XRP across six wallets by mid-September. The 89.79% reduction reflects repeated transfers to unknown destinations and a concentration of balances into fewer cold wallets.

How did Coinbase’s XRP reserves fall by 89.79%?

Blockchain analytics (reported by XRPWallets as plain-text source) show multiple large transfers during the summer. Coinbase’s ten largest cold wallets previously held ~26.8 million XRP each; those balances were moved or consolidated. Recent moves included a 16.5 million XRP transfer valued at roughly $51.4 million.

On-chain records confirm the outflows but do not identify final custodians. Possible explanations include transfers to institutional custody providers, private vaults, or off-exchange custody solutions. No official statement from Coinbase confirms the destination or intent.

Why does this matter for the market?

The concentration and rapid depletion of visible exchange reserves can signal changes in liquidity and custody demand. Despite the outflows, XRP’s market capitalization remains near $183 billion, indicating market value held steady amid reserve movement.

Large off-exchange transfers can reduce on-exchange liquidity, potentially affecting short-term order book depth. However, without confirmed sell-side action, market impact is speculative. The data simply documents transfers and reduced on-exchange balances.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Coinbase cold wallets held XRP originally?

In June, Coinbase held XRP in 52 cold wallets totaling about 970 million XRP. By mid-September, analytics show six active wallets holding roughly 16.5 million XRP each, leaving ~99 million visible on the exchange.

Could these transfers represent institutional custody moves?

The transfers are consistent with possible institutional or custodial movements, but there is no public confirmation. On-chain records do not disclose final custodians, so institutional acquisition remains plausible but unverified.

Key Takeaways

• Major reserve decline: Coinbase’s XRP balances dropped ~89.79% from 970M to 99M in three months.
• Wallet consolidation: Visible holdings moved from 52 cold wallets to six, each holding ~16.5M XRP.
• Market context: XRP market cap stayed near $183 billion; transfers alone do not confirm selling or institutional buying.

Conclusion

Coinbase’s sharp reduction in visible XRP reserves is a clear, data-backed development that highlights large-scale off-chain movement and wallet consolidation. While the on-chain numbers are definitive, the reasons—whether institutional custody, private vaulting, or internal consolidation—remain unconfirmed. Readers should monitor official statements and continued on-chain activity for clarity.