On December 2, XRP Ledger implemented a significant update, cutting its reserve requirements by 90%. This means new users can now fund their wallets with just 1 XRP instead of the previous 10 XRP.
XRP Reserve Requirements Drastically Reduced
The reserve change, implemented at 10:45 PM UTC, was confirmed on X by a pseudonymous XRP validator operator. The reduction aims to make the blockchain more accessible to users, especially those discouraged by the higher initial reserve. It also allows users to spend XRP previously locked in reserve accounts.
The owner reserve, the amount needed for account-held objects like NFTs or trust lines, also dropped from 2 XRP to 0.2 XRP.
The reserve system’s primary purpose is to prevent spam accounts and excessive ledger growth, as highlighted by the XRP Ledger documentation. However, critics argue that the previous requirement slowed down adoption, prompting developers to push for change.
The initiative to reduce the reserve began in October, with XRP Ledger developer WietseWind announcing on October 16 that XRPL Labs nodes had been configured to vote for a lower reserve requirement.
Developers Support Lower Reserves Despite Concerns
The move to lower reserves reflects a broader effort to enhance accessibility and attract new users, which are critical for expanding XRP Ledger’s ecosystem.
This reserve reduction comes during a period of heightened activity for XRP.
The cryptocurrency has grown, reaching $2.65, its highest level since February 2018. This resurgence aligns with optimism surrounding the broader crypto market and ongoing legal battles involving Ripple Labs, XRP’s founding team.
Ripple Labs has been embroiled in a legal tussle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which claims XRP should have been registered as a security.
Ripple has contested the claims, appealing a $125 million fine imposed as part of the dispute. Despite these challenges, XRP continues to grow, reflecting investor confidence in its long-term prospects.
XRP has also seen remarkable growth recently, climbing 30% on Monday and overtaking USDT to become the third-largest cryptocurrency by market cap.
Trading at $2.63 at press time, the token’s value has increased by 77% in a week and over 375% in the past month, with its market cap reaching $137.4 billion.
This growth follows XRP surpassing Solana in market cap over the weekend, signaling strong momentum for the cryptocurrency amid ongoing developments.
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