The XRP Rich List continues to evolve rapidly, and for XRP enthusiasts designed to grow their position, it’s crucial to understand how much XRP is now considered elite.
The XRP Rich List continues to evolve rapidly, and for XRP enthusiasts aiming to grow their position, it’s crucial to understand how much XRP is now considered elite. Crypto analyst and educator Edoardo Farina has shared fresh insights that highlight the growing competition among XRP holders looking to climb the ranks.
To be among the top 10% of all XRP wallets globally, a wallet now needs a minimum of 2,486 XRP. Ascending the ranks requires even more: 8,758 XRP secures a spot in the top 5%, while top 4% holders possess at least 11,000 XRP. The top 3% of wallets are holding roughly 16,299 XRP. Getting to the top 2% demands 25,639 XRP, and breaking into the top 1% group now takes a hefty 50,637 XRP.
Interestingly, only 663 wallets worldwide have balances exceeding 5 million XRP. These extremely high-value wallets often belong to institutional entities, early founders, or are linked to large cryptocurrency exchanges rather than individual investors.
Global Adoption Still Limited
Despite XRP’s strong market presence, true global adoption remains relatively marginal. According to Farina, although there are more than 6.6 million XRP wallets on the XRP Ledger, many of them are either inactive or belong to users who control multiple wallets. This points to a skewed perception of adoption.
Taking wallet duplication and inactivity into account, the estimated actual number of individual XRP holders may be fewer than one million. When you compare that with the global population of over 8 billion, that’s less than 0.01% of people holding any amount of XRP. In an earlier piece, Farina noted that just 1 in every 5,000 people own XRP today.
This low penetration underscores how early-stage the XRP ecosystem still is and suggests there’s considerable room for growth, especially as adoption increases worldwide.
The Importance of Self-Custody for XRP Holders
Farina also emphasized that owning XRP isn’t just about holding the asset—it’s also about control. A key issue highlighted is that many users keep their XRP on centralized exchanges. This raises concerns around custodianship and long-term asset security.
True control lies in self-custody, particularly through cold wallets where users manage their own private keys. Farina suggests that only a fraction of XRP addresses belong to individuals who have complete control over their holdings. As the value of XRP grows, ensuring superior wallet security becomes ever more critical.
Investor Psychology and Long-Term Strategy
Farina also provided commentary on investor behavior during rapid price fluctuations. He states that many retail investors are psychologically conditioned to exit positions at certain price milestones such as $10 or $100. However, XRP purists who adopt a long-term strategy, utilize cold storage, and exhibit strong conviction are more likely to ride out the volatility and potentially realize greater returns—possibly holding until levels like $1,000 are reached, as suggested in this forecast.
Rising Entry Costs for XRP’s Upper Ranks
The current XRP Rich List reveals how much harder it’s getting to climb the leaderboard. Just one year ago, a wallet needed between $1,000 and $1,500 worth of XRP to be in the top 10%. Today, the numbers are dramatically different, driven by increasing asset appreciation and a more competitive field.
As a result, investors now need significantly more capital to enter top XRP holding tiers. Farina sees this as a narrowing opening for retail participants, one that may soon be out of reach for most new entrants. He has boldly claimed that as much as 99% of investors could eventually be priced out of higher tiers of XRP ownership.
Related: Expert Advice: Sell XRP If You’re Confused
For XRP believers, this Rich List data not only serves as a status marker but also as a call to strategy. As the landscape becomes increasingly competitive, commitment, timing, and secure asset management will determine who ultimately thrives in the ecosystem.
Quick Summary
The XRP Rich List continues to evolve rapidly, and for XRP enthusiasts aiming to grow their position, it’s crucial to understand how much XRP is now considered elite. Crypto analyst and educator Edoardo Farina has shared fresh insights that highlight the growing competition among XRP holders looking to climb the ranks.
Source
Information sourced from official Ripple publications, institutional research, regulatory documentation and reputable crypto news outlets.
Author
Ripple Van Winkle is a cryptocurrency analyst and founder of XRP Right Now. He has been active in the crypto space for over 8 years and has generated more than 25 million views across YouTube covering XRP daily.
Editorial Note
Opinions are the author's alone and for informational purposes only. This publication does not provide investment advice.

