XRP History: The Complete Timeline
Every major milestone from the creation of the XRP Ledger in 2011 through the SEC lawsuit, court rulings, and XRP's emergence as institutional infrastructure.
Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research before making investment decisions.
The Eras of XRP
XRPL creation, OpenCoin founded, early funding
Enterprise focus, SBI partnership, rebranding
All-time high $3.84, escrow, xRapid launch
MoneyGram, ODL rollout, SEC lawsuit filed
SEC case, Torres ruling, exchange relistings
ETFs, RLUSD, $3.7B in acquisitions
Full Timeline
2011
XRPL Development Begins
David Schwartz, Jed McCaleb, and Arthur Britto begin developing the XRP Ledger, envisioning a faster, more energy-efficient alternative to Bitcoin that does not require mining.
2012
XRP Ledger Goes Live
The XRP Ledger processes its first transaction. All 100 billion XRP tokens are pre-mined at genesis, with no mining mechanism required.
OpenCoin Founded
Chris Larsen joins Jed McCaleb and Arthur Britto to form OpenCoin (initially called NewCoin), the company that would become Ripple Labs. The founders gift 80 billion XRP to the new company.
2013
Early Funding and Growth
OpenCoin raises its first round of angel funding, attracting investors from the venture capital community, signaling institutional interest in the project.
Rebrand to Ripple Labs
OpenCoin officially rebrands to Ripple Labs, Inc., reflecting the company's focus on the Ripple payment protocol and network.
Jed McCaleb Departs
Co-founder Jed McCaleb leaves Ripple Labs amid disagreements over the company's direction. He signs an agreement governing the sale of his XRP holdings and later goes on to create Stellar.
2015
Rebrand to Ripple
Ripple Labs rebrands to simply 'Ripple,' streamlining its corporate identity as the company shifts focus toward enterprise blockchain payment solutions.
2016
SBI Holdings Partnership
Ripple signs a memorandum of understanding with Japan's SBI Holdings, leading to the creation of SBI Ripple Asia in May 2016 to promote Ripple's technology across Asia.
2017
XRP Market Cap Surges
XRP's price begins a dramatic rise, climbing from under $0.01 at the start of 2017 to over $0.25 by mid-year, driven by growing interest in Ripple's cross-border payment technology.
55 Billion XRP Locked in Escrow
Ripple places 55 billion XRP into cryptographic escrow on the XRP Ledger, releasing 1 billion per month to provide predictability and transparency over XRP supply.
2018
XRP Reaches All-Time High of $3.84
XRP hits its all-time high price of $3.84 during the 2017–2018 crypto bull run, briefly making it the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization.
xRapid Launches
Ripple commercially launches xRapid, a product that uses XRP as a bridge currency for real-time cross-border payments, enabling financial institutions to source liquidity on demand.
2019
MoneyGram Partnership
Ripple announces a strategic partnership with MoneyGram, investing $30 million (later up to $50 million) for the remittance giant to use Ripple's On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) powered by XRP.
xRapid Rebranded to On-Demand Liquidity
Ripple rebrands its xRapid product to On-Demand Liquidity (ODL), emphasizing instant settlement without the need for pre-funded nostro accounts in destination currencies.
2020
Flare Networks Airdrop Announced
Flare Networks announces a Spark (FLR) token airdrop to XRP holders, bringing smart contract functionality to the XRP ecosystem and generating significant community excitement.
SEC Files Lawsuit Against Ripple
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission files a lawsuit alleging Ripple Labs raised $1.3 billion through unregistered sales of XRP as securities, naming CEO Brad Garlinghouse and co-founder Chris Larsen as defendants.
2021
MoneyGram Suspends ODL
MoneyGram suspends its use of Ripple's ODL product and XRP trading due to uncertainty caused by the SEC lawsuit, though it continues using RippleNet messaging.
Major Exchanges Delist or Suspend XRP
Several major U.S. cryptocurrency exchanges, including Coinbase, suspend or delist XRP trading in response to the SEC lawsuit, significantly reducing U.S. liquidity.
2022
Hinman Documents Released
Internal SEC documents from former Director William Hinman's 2018 speech — where he said Ethereum was not a security — are made public during the Ripple case, bolstering Ripple's defense.
XRP Ledger NFT Support (XLS-20)
The XLS-20 amendment activates on the XRP Ledger, adding native NFT minting and trading functionality directly on-chain without requiring smart contracts.
2023
Judge Torres Landmark Ruling
Judge Analisa Torres rules that XRP is not a security when sold on public exchanges to retail investors, handing Ripple a major legal victory. However, certain institutional sales were found to violate securities laws.
XRP Relisted on Major Exchanges
Following the Torres ruling, Coinbase, Kraken, and other major U.S. exchanges relist XRP for trading, restoring U.S. market access for the first time since early 2021.
2024
Ripple Ordered to Pay $125 Million Penalty
Judge Torres orders Ripple to pay $125 million in civil penalties for securities law violations related to institutional XRP sales — far less than the SEC's original demand of nearly $2 billion.
First XRP Spot ETF Filings
Bitwise and Canary Capital file applications for spot XRP ETFs with the SEC, followed by 21Shares in November and WisdomTree in December, signaling growing institutional demand.
RLUSD Stablecoin Launches
Ripple launches RLUSD, a USD-backed stablecoin issued on both the XRP Ledger and Ethereum, following approval from the New York Department of Financial Services. It debuts on exchanges including Uphold, MoonPay, and Bitstamp.
2025
SEC Appeals Torres Ruling
The SEC files an appeal against aspects of the Torres ruling, continuing the legal battle. Settlement discussions follow at a closed-door SEC meeting on January 30, 2025.
XRP Futures ETFs Launch
Volatility Shares and ProShares launch XRP futures-based ETFs following the listing of XRP futures contracts on CME, marking XRP's entry into traditional financial markets.
The Founding Story
The XRP Ledger story began in 2011 when David Schwartz, a cryptographer with experience dating to the 1980s, joined forces with Jed McCaleb and Arthur Britto to build a faster, more energy-efficient alternative to Bitcoin.
100,000,000,000 XRP
Created at genesis — the XRP Ledger goes live with its entire fixed supply
Chris Larsen, a serial fintech entrepreneur, joined as co-founder and first CEO, bringing enterprise credibility. Together they formed OpenCoin (later Ripple) in September 2012. Learn more on our Leadership page.
The SEC Lawsuit: A Turning Point
The SEC filed a lawsuit alleging Ripple raised $1.3 billion through unregistered sales of XRP as securities, naming CEO Brad Garlinghouse and co-founder Chris Larsen as co-defendants.
Major U.S. exchanges delisted or suspended XRP trading, dramatically reducing liquidity. But Ripple chose to fight rather than settle — a decision that proved pivotal.
Judge Analisa Torres ruled that XRP sold on public exchanges to retail investors is not a security. This was a watershed moment — not just for XRP, but for the entire cryptocurrency industry. Exchanges relisted XRP within days, and the legal clarity paved the way for ETF filings and institutional adoption.
The Institutional Era (2024-2026)
Spot ETF applications from Bitwise, 21Shares, Canary Capital, WisdomTree; futures ETFs launched May 2025
Launched December 2024, surpassing $1.26B market cap
Hidden Road, Rail, GTreasury, Palisade — full-stack financial infrastructure
RLUSD settling fiat card transactions on the XRPL
How Has XRP's Price Changed Over Time?
| Period | Price Range | Key Driver |
|---|---|---|
| 2012-2016 | $0.001 - $0.02 | Early development, minimal liquidity |
| 2017 | $0.006 → $2.30 | Crypto bull run, SBI partnership, escrow |
| Jan 2018 | ATH: $3.84 | Peak of 2017-2018 bull run |
| 2018-2020 | $0.15 - $0.70 | Crypto winter, building phase |
| Dec 2020 - Jul 2023 | $0.20 - $0.90 | SEC lawsuit suppression |
| Jul 2023 | $0.47 → $0.94 | Torres ruling — 100% spike in 24 hours |
| 2024-2026 | $0.50+ | ETF filings, RLUSD, institutional adoption |
The Five Most Important Moments in XRP History
XRPL Genesis (June 2012)
Creation of all 100 billion XRP and launch of a blockchain that would operate 14+ years without downtime.
55 Billion XRP Escrow (Dec 2017)
Ripple locked over half the total supply in cryptographic escrow — the most transparent supply management in crypto.
SEC Lawsuit Filed (Dec 2020)
The most consequential regulatory event in cryptocurrency history, leading to years of uncertainty but ultimately forcing legal clarity.
Torres Ruling (July 2023)
XRP on exchanges ruled not a security — a watershed moment for all of crypto, leading to immediate relistings.
Institutional Infrastructure (2025)
Ripple's $3.7B acquisition spree transformed it from a payments startup into a full-stack financial infrastructure provider.
How Did the XRP Community Develop?
The XRP community — the "XRP Army" — is one of the most dedicated in cryptocurrency. Forged through years of the SEC lawsuit and price suppression, the community developed a unique culture of patience, conviction, and cryptic puzzle-solving.
The Riddler tradition involving figures like BearableGuy123 and Mr. Pool is unlike anything in other crypto communities. See who's worth following on our XRP People to Follow page.
Common Misconceptions About XRP History
“XRP was created by Ripple”
The XRPL was built before Ripple existed. Schwartz, McCaleb, and Britto created the ledger; they then formed the company.
“The SEC lawsuit proved XRP is a security”
The opposite — the Torres ruling established that XRP on exchanges is NOT a security.
“XRP is 'dead' because of years of low prices”
Price suppression during the SEC era masked massive infrastructure building. Ripple spent $3.7B on acquisitions in 2025 alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
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From a 2011 whiteboard concept to a $50 billion financial infrastructure company — XRP's story is still being written. Start your journey today.
Last updated: February 10, 2026. Written by the AllAboutXRP Editorial Team. Sources: XRPL.org, Ripple official announcements, SEC court filings, CoinMarketCap, CoinDesk, XRPScan.