XRP Eyes $9.63 as Legal Expert Defends Ripple’s Escrow Strategy

XRP Builds Momentum: $9.63 Target Emerges From Historical Patterns

XRP is heating up again.

Up 11.3% in the past week to $3.28, the third-largest cryptocurrency by market cap is regaining bullish traction—and this time, it’s not just traders fueling the move. Analysts, lawyers, and on-chain data are all aligning behind a powerful narrative: XRP’s next leg could be massive.

Market strategist Javon Marks has reignited the long-term bullish case, projecting a +188% rally to $9.63 based on repeating bull-cycle patterns from 2017 and 2021. That target isn’t guesswork—it’s pattern recognition.

Marks points to:

• Similar price structure development compared to prior cycles
• Resurgence in institutional inflows
• Growing on-chain transaction volume
• Clearer regulatory signals post-Ripple vs. SEC

If this cycle follows the same trajectory, $9.63 isn’t a moonshot—it’s a replay.

The Escrow Debate: Flaw or Feature?

For years, one argument has haunted XRP: Ripple’s monthly escrow releases flood the market, creating constant sell pressure.

Now, a prominent legal voice is pushing back—hard.

Bill Morgan, an Australian corporate lawyer and crypto advocate, has launched a full-throated defense of Ripple’s escrow system, calling it a pillar of transparency and stability, not a liability.

Established in 2017, Ripple’s escrow holds 55 billion XRP, releasing up to 1 billion tokens per month—but crucially, any unused amount is re-escrowed. This means:

• No automatic dumping
• Supply is predictable, not speculative
• Institutions can plan around known issuance

Recent data shows escrow holdings at ~35.6B XRP, with 64.36B in circulation. But in practice, Ripple often re-locks over 90% of monthly unlocks, meaning minimal net supply impact.

“Even after eight years,” Morgan argues, “the release of XRP from escrow provides no helpful explanation of significant price movement.” In other words: if XRP drops, it’s not because of escrow—it’s market dynamics.

Even U.S. regulators have acknowledged the mechanism’s intent: to prevent sudden supply shocks and build market confidence.

Why This Matters for Price

Morgan’s argument isn’t just legal nitpicking—it’s market psychology.

When investors believe a token’s supply is chaotic or manipulative, they discount its value. But when issuance is transparent, capped, and disciplined, it becomes a trust signal.

That’s exactly what Ripple’s escrow offers:

• No surprises—releases happen on a fixed schedule
• No waste—unspent tokens go back into escrow
• No central dumping—Ripple doesn’t profit from releases

CTO David Schwartz recently clarified that releases are only recorded on-chain when a triggering transaction is submitted—adding another layer of procedural clarity.

This kind of operational transparency is catnip for institutions.

The Path to $9.63—And Beyond

Marks’ $9.63 target assumes XRP follows its historical playbook:

• A base-building phase (now)
• A breakout above $3.50
• Acceleration toward $6–$7
• Final surge to $9.63 in late-stage mania

But some see even higher.

Macro strategist Gert van Lagen has floated a $34 target, citing a potential market cap shift if XRP becomes the dominant settlement rail for global banks and CBDCs.

While that remains speculative, the foundation is strengthening:

• RippleNet used by hundreds of financial institutions
• CBDC projects with multiple central banks
• ODL (On-Demand Liquidity) adoption growing in emerging markets

With Bitcoin near $120K and altseason warming up, XRP is well-positioned to capture capital seeking high-utility, high-liquidity exposure.

Bottom Line: Confidence Is Returning

The narrative around XRP is shifting.

No longer just a “lawsuit coin” or a “whale-controlled asset,” it’s increasingly seen as a battle-tested digital asset with:

• Clear tokenomics
• Predictable supply
• Real-world utility
• Institutional-grade infrastructure

If buying pressure continues, and the broader market stays strong, $9.63 isn’t fantasy—it’s a cycle repeat waiting to happen.