Crypto expert Jake Claver recently shared an exchange he had with Ripple. His firm wanted to custody client XRP with the company that issued it. This way, they would earn a return and keep custody under one roof. Ripple’s response stopped the conversation. “We have 4.8 billion XRP. Why do we need yours?”
That answer revealed something about Ripple’s institutional posture that Claver says he now fully understands.
I asked Ripple to custody our clients' XRP. Their answer: 'We hold 4.8 billion XRP. Why would we need yours?' That one line tells you their whole strategy. They're infrastructure, not a retail bank. Stop waiting for them to be your custodian. pic.twitter.com/FQa0CR1n08
— Jake Claver, QFOP (@beyond_broke) July 12, 2026
Ripple Operates as Infrastructure, Not a Custodian
Ripple does not position itself as a retail or wealth management custodian. Claver’s account confirms this directly. At the time of the conversation, his firm was Ripple’s only wealth management client. The rejection was not hostile. Ripple holds enough XRP to operate at institutional scale without sourcing assets from outside clients. Its priorities sit elsewhere.
Claver’s firm later moved its XRP custody to Anchorage in 2024. Before that, the firm held roughly 30 million XRP with Standard Custody. When Ripple acquired Standard Custody, that relationship changed. Ripple’s acquisition of a custody platform did not translate into Ripple offering custody services to Claver’s clients.
The Escrow Question
Ripple’s response carries more weight once escrow enters the picture. Ripple holds a large portion of XRP in escrow, releasing it on a scheduled basis. One commenter on Claver’s post raised a distinction worth noting. Ripple may hold XRP without owning it. If that reading is accurate, other institutions could already have deals tied to that escrow supply.
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Rumors about a 5 billion XRP escrow deal with Amazon have circulated for years. Nothing has been confirmed. The rumor persists partly because the escrow structure allows for exactly this kind of arrangement. A company could secure access to XRP through escrow without Ripple taking on a traditional custodial role. Additionally, Ripple currently holds well over 30 billion XRP in escrow.
A Strategic Position, Not a Gap
Claver’s experience is worth reading carefully. Ripple did not turn away a client because of capacity or compliance concerns. It turned away a client because the request did not fit the business model.
Ripple builds payment infrastructure and settlement rails. It does not compete with custodians like Anchorage. Firms that want to hold XRP on behalf of clients need to go elsewhere.
Disclaimer: This content is meant to inform and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author’s personal opinions and do not represent Times Tabloid’s opinion. Readers are advised to conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions. Any action taken by the reader is strictly at their own risk. Times Tabloid is not responsible for any financial losses.
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