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As August 2026 began, Ripple pulled off its classic escrow maneuver, but with one important shift in transaction timing. Every month, XRP holders await the release of one billion tokens, bracing for pressure on the order books.
This time, however, the company moved first and on Aug. 1, Ripple preemptively locked 700 million XRP back into escrow in two tranches of 200 million and 500 million, according to XRP Scan data.
Only after that did the system release the main 1 billion XRP in three consecutive portions of 500 million, 300 million and 200 million tokens. This maneuver reduced the actual inflow of fresh liquidity to just 300 million XRP, which could serve as a strong preventive signal for investors accustomed to seasonal dumping.
The reason is that historical statistics covering the past 13 years have turned August into the worst nightmare for XRP holders. The median return for the month stands at a harsh -6.15%, while the average barely remains positive at +0.54%.
Over the past three years, the token has consistently closed August lower: -26.6% in 2023, -9.17% in 2024 and -8.15% in 2025.
Why the $1.0480 support changes the August outlook for XRP
Nevertheless, the token is currently breaking this destructive historical pattern. While Ripple was moving the tranches, the intraday XRP/USD chart found a local bottom at $1.0480 late on Aug. 1, then reversed upward and consolidated around $1.0818.
In the final analysis, instead of the dumping expected by the market, investors received a targeted liquidity injection alongside a current monthly return of +1.93%, which is keeping the trend in the green after July's +2.11% gain. The early isolation of most of the tokens removed a potential supply overhang at the very start of the most dangerous month of the year.
For large holders and traders, this is a sign that the $1.0480–$1.0600 zone is now being firmly cemented beneath the price, forming an August floor that could protect the asset from its usual seasonal dump.
Dan Burgin
