#Crypto Market Rebound#  Why Is XRP Price Stuck? Analyst Points to Centralized Control

XRP has failed to breakout since its November 2024 rally, raising new questions about what’s holding it back.

Despite XRP’s strong technical foundation, there seems to be a dominant “hand” influencing market behavior. Limited supply, centralized token management, and weak institutional demand are the main obstacles.

Ripple’s Impact on XRP Supply

Unlike Bitcoin or Ethereum, XRP is pre-mined. Initially, 100 billion tokens were created and no new tokens will ever be minted again. Ripple Labs initially held 80% of the total supply and as of mid-2025, it still controls about 42%.

Approximately 35% of this is locked in monthly escrow accounts, while 7% is in Ripple’s wallets.

Every month, Ripple releases up to 1 billion XRP, which has a huge impact on the circulating supply and therefore price dynamics.

This degree of control has sparked debate about whether XRP can truly be called a decentralized asset. Market movements no longer reflect organic supply and demand.

Institutional Demand Remains Uncertain

Despite being designed for fast and low-cost cross-border payments—a clear benefit for banks and institutions—XRP hasn't seen the kind of institutional traction enjoyed by Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Adoption remains weak. Market uncertainty surrounding Ripple's agreements with central banks and limited public knowledge about live integrations are creating skepticism. This hesitation may be deterring larger investors.

"Look at XRP's chart. It jumped in November 2024, then just traded sideways. This is not a healthy trend,"

Transparency Issues: Private vs. Public Ledger

Another concern is XRP's dual-ledger architecture. The public XRP Ledger manages individual and open transactions. However, Ripple has also developed a private permissioned ledger, reportedly for central banks exploring CBDCs.

While this private version uses similar technology to the public XRP Ledger, it is not publicly available and operates independently.

This private ledger is not publicly auditable. While there is speculation that the two systems will merge in the future, Ripple has not confirmed any such plans. This uncertainty is a red flag for many investors.

In cryptocurrency markets, where transparency and decentralization are crucial for trust, XRP's behind-the-scenes architecture stands out.

XRP Price Stuck Until Structure Changes

Technically, XRP continues to perform as designed. However, it faces structural challenges. High token density, a lack of widespread demand, and limited network transparency limit its upside potential.

Unless Ripple decentralizes its token distribution and opens up its private operations—or a new wave of adoption emerges—XRP will likely remain stuck in a sideways trend.

Price momentum will not return without a shift in broader demand and governance dynamics.