U.S. Plan to Build Sovereign Wealth Fund Sparks Speculation Over Ripple's $100B XRP Escrow

The White House's new strategy to acquire stakes in private companies, modeled after its recent Intel deal, has ignited debate among crypto analysts about whether Ripple's massive $100 billion XRP escrow could become a target for government acquisition.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. government's recent strategy to acquire significant stakes in private corporations has triggered widespread speculation within the digital asset community that Ripple Labs' vast XRP escrow, valued at approximately $100 billion, could be a future target for acquisition.

The debate follows a White House announcement detailing plans to expand its holdings in the private sector, with the ultimate goal of building a U.S. sovereign wealth fund. Kevin Hassett, Director of the National Economic Council, confirmed that the government's recent deal to secure a nearly 10% stake in Intel would serve as a model for future investments. President Donald Trump defended the move, calling it essential for the national interest.

This new government posture has led analysts and crypto commentators, including Zach Rector, to question whether the government might also set its sights on Ripple's substantial holdings. The company currently controls over 35 billion XRP locked in a series of escrow wallets.

Speculation intensified after the government had previously considered, but ultimately decided against, purchasing XRP for a strategic digital asset reserve. Despite that decision, the new investment strategy has renewed discussions about the government's potential interest in controlling a significant portion of the XRP supply.

The technical and legal feasibility of such a move is also being debated. A validator on the Ripple network previously noted that control over the escrowed XRP could theoretically be transferred to another entity through a simple key change. Furthermore, legal expert Jeremy Hogan has argued that the U.S. government could potentially seize the escrowed assets if deemed necessary for national interests, particularly during a time of economic uncertainty.

While Ripple has consistently maintained it will not sell the escrowed XRP, the possibility of government intervention, whether through a negotiated stake or a more forceful acquisition, remains a point of intense discussion among market observers.