Trail 1 of 12
Start Here: XRP, Ripple and the XRP Ledger
Start with what XRP is. XRPL.org documents XRP as the XRP Ledger’s native asset, with no issuer. All 100 billion XRP were created in 2012. CoinMarketCap showed about 62.87 billion circulating on September 29, 2026. The ledger is a public blockchain that launched in June 2012. XRPL.org claims more than 14 years of continuous uptime. Decrypt reported a roughly hour-long halt on February 4, 2025.
Ripple is a separate private company, and XRP is not a share in it. XRPL.org says no one can freeze XRP. Its FAQ says Ripple ran 1 of 35 default-list validators as of July 2023. Ripple does publish one of the two default lists. The history page runs from the June 2012 launch to the end of the SEC case on August 7, 2025.
The later pages weigh the criticism. A court ruled in July 2023 that XRP itself is not an investment contract. The same ruling found that Ripple’s direct sales to institutions broke registration rules. Ripple reported holding 37.66 billion XRP, with 32.6 billion in escrow, as of June 30, 2026. Whether Ripple’s business creates demand for XRP remains open. The final page directs readers to primary records for news.
Published Updated
Where XRP came from
- What is the history of XRP?
XRP began with a ledger built in 2011 and 2012 that went live in June 2012 with 100 billion XRP, XRPL.org says. The founders gave 80 billion to their… - Does Ripple control XRP or the XRP Ledger, and can it freeze my coins?
Ripple cannot freeze or claw back XRP, and it does not run the ledger alone. XRPL.org says no one can freeze XRP, and its FAQ says Ripple ran 1 of 35…
Big first questions
- Is XRP dead, a scam, or a failed experiment?
The court and regulator records reviewed for this page contain no fraud finding about XRP, and the ledger is running: xrpscan's amendment data showed… - Why do so many crypto people dislike XRP (the "XRP Army" critique)?
Criticism of XRP comes in separate strands, and each can be checked on its own. The best-documented strands are Ripple's large holdings, which Ripple… - Where can I find trustworthy, current XRP news?
Trustworthy XRP news starts with primary records: XRPL.org for ledger upgrades, SEC filings and court dockets for legal and fund facts, and Ripple's…
Ripple, XRP and the Ledger
- What's the difference between Ripple, XRP and the XRP Ledger?
XRP is the digital asset built into the XRP Ledger. The XRP Ledger is a public blockchain that launched in June 2012 and is kept in agreement by… - What is XRP?
XRP is the native digital asset of the XRP Ledger, a public blockchain. XRPL.org documents that XRP has no issuer, while every token on the ledger is… - What is the XRP Ledger, and is it a real blockchain?
Yes. The XRP Ledger is a public blockchain that launched in June 2012 and was built to move and exchange value, not around user-written smart contracts… - Is buying XRP the same as owning part of Ripple?
No. XRP is not a share in Ripple, and holding it gives no ownership of the company and no claim on its revenue, profits or assets. Ripple is a private… - What does "XRP" stand for?
No cited source expands XRP into words. XRPL.org says the asset was first called "ripples", with XRP as its currency code. The X follows the convention…