Crypto Author Challenges CoinMarketCap’s XRP Supply Calculation, Calls for Fairer Accounting
Crypto author and co-founder of Anodos Finance Panos Mekras has addressed what he calls a major misconception about XRP’s circulating supply and its original intended use.
In a tweet, Mekras argued that all 100 billion XRP were created and put into circulation in 2012 when the XRP Ledger (XRPL) officially launched. Contrary to popular belief, he asserted that there has never been any inflation of XRP, meaning no new tokens have been created beyond the initial supply.
Mekras explained that the XRPL, unlike Bitcoin, doesn’t rely on mining or Proof-of-Work (PoW) to distribute its tokens. Instead, the three core developers behind it—David Schwartz, Arthur Britto, and Jed McCaleb—initially made XRP freely available through a Genesis wallet, allowing anyone to claim as much as they wanted.
As Ripple Labs (then called OpenCoin) was formed, the team sought ways to distribute XRP fairly. This led to widespread giveaways, airdrops, and faucet programs that dispensed thousands of XRP daily.
However, Mekras noted that these distribution methods were eventually stopped due to their negative impact on XRP’s price stability.
By 2017, Ripple made the decision to lock the majority of its remaining XRP into escrow, a built-in feature of the XRPL, to prevent potential large-scale sell-offs that could further destabilize the price.
A major point of contention for Mekras is the way CoinMarketCap (CMC) and other market tracking websites calculate XRP’s circulating supply.
Related: XRP’s Counter-Narrative: Challenging Bitcoin’s Institutional Dominance Towards $200K
Mekras pointed out that while XRP has been active since 2012, CMC excludes Ripple’s escrowed tokens from circulation while failing to account for similar escrows by other XRPL users.
Mekras argued that if escrowed XRP is considered out of circulation, then all escrows—not just Ripple’s—should be excluded.
Mekras’ comments triggered further reactions among community members. One commenter questioned whether XRP would ever reach the $10 mark, citing the conflicting narratives surrounding its purpose and level of adoption.
Others pointed to Ripple’s partnerships with financial institutions, arguing that these collaborations contradict claims that XRP was not intended for banks.
Skeptics also raised concerns about Ripple’s role in the XRP ecosystem. Some investors believe the company has used XRP primarily as a funding vehicle, profiting from retail investors while delaying real utility.
“Future promises never deliver,” one critic said, alleging that XRP’s true adoption remains hidden behind non-disclosure agreements.
Mekras pushed back against claims that the digital asset was created for institutional use. He stated that Ripple’s founders actually opposed banks and middlemen.
Related: Attorney Bill Morgan Reveals How US Bank Failures Disrupted XRP Transactions in Ripple’s ODL System
“Scammers (aka influencers and YouTubers) are to blame for this,” Mekras wrote. He argued that the belief that XRP was designed for banks and cross-border payments is a misconception initially spread by Bitcoin maximalists.
According to Mekras, this narrative was later amplified by certain XRP influencers, ultimately damaging the asset’s reputation and hindering its wider adoption.
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Stock Exchange: Wall Street In Turmoil, Europe Takes The Prize
Trump aiding, the European stock market is doing well, while Wall Street is taking hit after hit. Investors are shunning American stocks, scared off by economic policies considered risky. Meanwhile, capital is flowing to Europe, benefiting from a new momentum. With European funds in full ascent, should decision-makers across the Atlantic be worried? All the more so as the trend seems to be accelerating, reinforced by unexpected strategic decisions.
The European markets are experiencing an unprecedented influx of capital, with investors seeking refuge amid American uncertainty. In just one month, European equity funds recorded their largest capital inflows in ten years .
In parallel, the European Central Bank suggests that it may increase its investments in defense and infrastructure, an announcement that enhances the appeal of European markets.
According to data from Bank of America , over $6 billion has flowed into European funds over ten consecutive weeks, a record. Meanwhile, American active funds continue to see their assets shrink, with $1.2 billion exiting in one week. A rotation of capital reminiscent of the shift of 1999, when investors abandoned the United States in favor of Europe.
It is noteworthy that 39% of funds are now overweight in Europe, compared to only 12% last month. A radical change that raises the question: are we witnessing a new golden age of European finance?
Since Trump’s arrival, American markets have experienced recurring instability. According to Bank of America, capital outflows from American funds are reaching unprecedented heights. Indeed, as investors pull their money from US stocks, the latter underperform. The S&P 500 index itself shows signs of weakness compared to the European Stoxx 600.
A few remarkable figures:
Trust in the United States is continuously declining. The renowned investor Warren Buffett recently sold part of his stocks, an alarming signal for American markets.
Furthermore, Bank of America’s study reveals that 69% of fund managers believe that “the stock market exceptionalism” of the United States is coming to an end. Adding to this are the volatility of stock indices such as the Nasdaq and the Dow Jones, making the future seem very uncertain.
Will the Trump administration be able to regain the trust of investors before the situation becomes critical?
Ram Charan, financial analyst, nicely summarizes the situation:
” The stock market is dangerously declining, some speak of Trump turbulence, others of a slowing US economy. ”
If we believe the major banks, the downward trend is just beginning. How far will it go?
The economic malaise in the USA is not limited to traditional stocks. Crypto ETFs are also facing a wave of disaffection. Since January, investors have turned away from American spot Bitcoin ETFs, prompting a flight of $5.5 billion. Meanwhile, European active ETFs are seeing an influx of 33 billion euros, an increase of 16% in one month.
The European dynamic is such that asset management giants like BlackRock, JPMorgan, and Goldman Sachs are showing increasing interest in the European ETF market. These companies are looking to diversify their investment offerings on European exchanges, attracted by regulations considered more stable and favorable for financial innovations.
The enthusiasm is such that some experts, like Peter Oppenheimer of Goldman Sachs, estimate that European markets could surpass the United States in active ETFs in the years to come.
According to Global Markets Investor, ” capital in equities is massively leaving the United States to head towards Europe“. A statement that speaks volumes about the ongoing global economic turn. European UCITS funds have recorded record growth in a month, confirming this trend.
Moreover, BlackRock recently announced a strategic repositioning by removing the “ESG” label from 56 of its European ETFs, which could further enhance the influx of investors.
In the long term, could Europe become the hub of financial investments, particularly in the crypto sector?
One thing is certain: the correlation between Wall Street and Bitcoin has never been stronger. Recently, a brutal drop in the American stock market has awakened fears of a major economic crisis . Investors must therefore remain vigilant and carefully monitor market signals.