Nearly Half of Total Supply Exposed…XRP Security Debate Reignited

▲ XRP, Quantum Computer/AI Generated Image ©

An analysis indicating that a significant portion of the total supply of XRP (Ripple) is exposed to future quantum computer threats has reignited the long-term security risk debate.

According to crypto media outlet Bitcoinist on May 1 (local time), an analysis of 7,810,364 total accounts on the XRP Ledger revealed that approximately 76.82 billion XRP are already in a state where their public keys are exposed. These are accounts whose public keys have been revealed on-chain through signed transactions and are categorized as potential targets for attack if quantum computers advance in the future.

This analysis points to a 'future response problem' rather than an immediate hacking risk. If quantum-resistant cryptographic technology is introduced, active users can move their assets to new secure accounts, but the problem lies with dormant accounts that have been inactive for a long time. Accounts with lost or inaccessible keys cannot be responded to, potentially leaving them as future vulnerabilities.

This structure is confirmed by actual data. Approximately 96% of quantum-exposed XRP belongs to active accounts, making migration highly probable. However, 3.83% of the total exposed volume, or 2.94% of the total supply, is tied up in accounts that have been dormant for over five years and have exposed public keys. Notably, early accounts from 2013 accounted for about 0.024% of the total.

However, there is also an assessment that this risk is lower than that of Bitcoin. According to the analysis, early Bitcoin holdings, such as Satoshi Nakamoto's wallets, that have not been moved constitute about 5% of the total supply, indicating a larger quantum risk exposure compared to XRP. Ultimately, the issue is said to be closer to 'social consensus' than technology.

Meanwhile, approximately 27% of all accounts are still classified as quantum-safe, holding about 23.16 billion XRP. These are accounts that have never made a transaction or use a new key structure. However, multisig wallets are not entirely safe either. About 36.6 billion XRP, 36.6% of the total supply, is held in approximately 242 multisig wallets. Analysis shows that some of their signing keys are already public, requiring continuous key rotation management.

Ultimately, while XRP is technically quantum-resistant, the real risk is likely to arise from 'inactive assets.' The media outlet predicts that user participation, along with future network upgrades, will be a key variable determining the level of security.

*Disclaimer: This article is for investment reference only, and we are not responsible for any investment losses based on it. The content should be interpreted for informational purposes only.*