- Ripple CTO David Schwartz refuted claims about new XRP minting, confirming the supply is hard-capped at 100 billion tokens with no function to create more.
- XRP Ledger’s design and security measures, including invariant checkers, strictly prevent any manipulation of the token supply, ensuring its immutability since inception.
A new wave of speculation has stirred up a long-standing debate over whether new XRP tokens can be minted. Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, David Schwartz, swiftly shut down the claims, emphasizing that no function within the XRP Ledger allows for such an action.
The discussion erupted after Bitcoin maximalist Pierre Rochard reignited concerns, suggesting that Ripple could create more than the finite 100 billion XRP supply. Rochard’s comments, posted on X, sparked a heated debate among XRP enthusiasts, prompting a direct response from Schwartz.
Schwartz firmly debunked the notion, making it clear that XRP’s supply is hard-capped. He pointed out that the blockchain itself enforces strict rules, ensuring that no additional XRP can be created beyond what was originally issued.
Immutable Blockchain Rules Defend XRP’s Supply Cap
Backing Schwartz’s assertion, Vet, an XRPL dUNL validator, explained that the XRP Ledger has maintained its supply integrity since its inception in 2012. At launch, exactly 100 billion XRP were created in the genesis block, and the developers deliberately removed any function that could potentially mint more tokens.
Vet further noted that an advanced invariant checker constantly scans the ledger to detect and block any unauthorized token creation attempts. This security feature ensures that even if an attacker were to find a loophole, the system would immediately prevent any violation of the fixed supply.
Because of these safeguards, not even Ripple itself has the ability to mint new XRP. The ledger’s rules apply to all administrators, validators, and network participants, eliminating any possibility of central control over supply adjustments.
No Extra XRP Beyond Publicly Recorded Supply
Another layer of speculation emerged when users questioned whether more than 100 billion XRP could exist in lost or inaccessible wallets. Some pointed to ledger modifications, specifically referencing the reconstructed ledger at block 32,570, as potential evidence of unaccounted-for tokens.
Schwartz dismissed these concerns, stating that verifying the balance of all wallets from that point in history was unnecessary. He clarified that historical data confirms exactly 100 billion XRP were distributed among 136 wallets at the time, and no excess tokens exist outside of that recorded supply.
Mayukha Vadari, a senior software engineer at RippleX, reinforced this explanation. She highlighted that the ledger itself serves as the ultimate source of truth. If any entity attempted to claim ownership of more XRP than the blockchain recognizes, validators would immediately reject that transaction.
The XRP Ledger’s design prevents inflationary changes, a crucial feature that sets it apart from traditional financial systems. The immutable rules governing the blockchain ensure that no new XRP can be added, maintaining the integrity of the ecosystem.
