If you're wondering when the Ripple XRP Ledger was first created, you're not alone. This question confuses many crypto beginners because the story involves multiple dates, different names, andIf you're wondering when the Ripple XRP Ledger was first created, you're not alone. This question confuses many crypto beginners because the story involves multiple dates, different names, and
Learn/Cryptocurrency Knowledge/Hot Concepts/When Was th...st Created?

When Was the Ripple (XRP) Ledger First Created?

Intermediate
Nov 11, 2025MEXC
0m
XRP
XRP$1.9273+2.15%
Notcoin
NOT$0.0005266-1.36%
Everclear
CLEAR$0.00358+0.56%
Juneo Supernet
JUNE$0.0102-37.80%
LightLink
LL$0.007373+0.05%
If you're wondering when the Ripple XRP Ledger was first created, you're not alone. This question confuses many crypto beginners because the story involves multiple dates, different names, and several key players. This article gives you a clear timeline of the XRP Ledger's creation, from its earliest concept in 2011 to its official launch in June 2012. You'll learn who built it, why they created it, and how it evolved into one of the oldest continuously operating blockchain platforms. By the end, you'll understand the complete history behind this early cryptocurrency network.


After learning XRP history, discover what makes it unique today.


Key Takeaways
  • The XRP Ledger officially launched in June 2012, making it one of the earliest cryptocurrencies after Bitcoin.
  • Three developers—David Schwartz, Jed McCaleb, and Arthur Britto—created XRP Ledger to solve Bitcoin's energy and speed problems.
  • All 100 billion XRP tokens were created at launch through pre-mining, with 80 billion gifted to the company.
  • Ripple company (originally NewCoin/OpenCoin) was founded in September 2012, three months after the ledger went live.
  • The XRP Ledger has operated continuously for over 13 years, approaching 100 million validated ledgers.
  • The XRPL Foundation launched in 2020 with $6.5 million in initial funding to support decentralized development.

When Was the Ripple XRP Ledger First Created? The Answer

The XRP Ledger officially launched in June 2012. Three developers—David Schwartz, Jed McCaleb, and Arthur Britto—completed the code development and brought the ledger live during this month. At launch, the network created a fixed supply of 100 billion XRP tokens. This date marks when the XRP Ledger first created its foundation as a working blockchain, making it one of the earliest cryptocurrencies after Bitcoin.


Before the XRP Ledger Was Created: 2011 Origins


1. Who Created the Ripple XRP Ledger?

In 2011, David Schwartz, Jed McCaleb, and Arthur Britto started working on what would become the XRP Ledger. These three engineers were fascinated by Bitcoin but recognized its fundamental limitations. They observed the energy waste from mining and slow transaction speeds. Their goal was ambitious: create a digital asset more sustainable and specifically built for payments.



2. The "Bitcoin Without Mining" Concept

McCaleb posted his vision on BitcoinTalk.org in May 2011 with a thread titled "Bitcoin without mining." This forum post outlined how they could build a distributed ledger that improved upon Bitcoin's fundamental limitations. The team believed mining was resource-hungry and would eventually undermine Bitcoin's usefulness. They wanted a system that could validate transactions without requiring massive computational power and electricity consumption.


The Official Launch Date - June 2012

By June 2012, Schwartz, McCaleb, and Britto finished their code development. The XRP Ledger went live with all 100 billion XRP tokens created at inception through a process called pre-mining. Unlike Bitcoin, where new coins are mined over time, the entire XRP supply existed from day one. This launch showed that blockchain networks didn't need energy-intensive mining to function securely and efficiently. to function securely and efficiently.


September 2012 - Ripple Company Created

Shortly after the XRP Ledger launched in June 2012, the three founders joined forces with Chris Larsen in September 2012. They established a company initially called NewCoin, which quickly renamed to OpenCoin. The XRPL founders gifted 80 billion XRP—representing 80% of the total supply—to this new company. OpenCoin later became Ripple Labs in 2013 and eventually shortened to just Ripple. This company aimed to build use cases for XRP and develop the technology for real-world financial applications.


Discover how XRP ownership evolved from creation to today.



XRP Ledger Evolution Timeline 2013-2025

On September 26, 2013, OpenCoin officially rebranded to Ripple Labs, establishing its identity as a technology company focused on global payments. The network continued evolving with the 2020 launch of the XRPL Foundation, an independent nonprofit that received over $6.5 million in initial funding. This foundation accelerated development and adoption of the decentralized XRP Ledger. More recently, the network approached a historic milestone of 100 million ledgers in 2025, demonstrating over 13 years of continuous operation without downtime.


Understand today's XRPL technology in our complete guide.



Why the Ripple XRP Ledger Creation Date Matters

Understanding when the Ripple XRP Ledger was first created helps you appreciate its staying power in the volatile cryptocurrency market. June 2012 makes XRP one of the oldest cryptocurrencies still actively used today. This longevity means it has operated through multiple market cycles. For investors and users, XRP's 13-year history shows its longevity in the cryptocurrency space. The early creation date also positions XRP as a pioneer in solving Bitcoin's scalability and energy problems.


Common Misconceptions About XRP Created

Many people confuse when different components of the XRP ecosystem came into existence. The XRP Ledger launched in June 2012, but Ripple company formed in September 2012. Some mistakenly believe Ripple created XRP, when actually the three developers created the ledger first, then gifted most XRP to the company. Another common error is mixing up the various company name changes—NewCoin became OpenCoin, which became Ripple Labs, then just Ripple. The ledger itself maintained consistent operation throughout all these corporate rebrandings.


Frequently Asked Questions

1. When was XRP created?
The XRP Ledger officially launched in June 2012 with all 100 billion XRP tokens created at inception.

2. Who created the XRP Ledger?
David Schwartz, Jed McCaleb, and Arthur Britto developed and launched the XRP Ledger in 2012.

3. When did Ripple company start?
Ripple (originally NewCoin/OpenCoin) was founded in September 2012, three months after the XRP Ledger went live.

4. Is XRP older than Ethereum?
Yes, the XRP Ledger launched in June 2012, while Ethereum didn't launch until July 2015.

5. How old is the XRP Ledger in 2025?
As of 2025, the XRP Ledger is 13 years old and approaching 100 million validated ledgers.

6. Can I buy XRP on cryptocurrency exchanges?
Yes, XRP is available on major cryptocurrency exchanges including MEXC, where you can trade it against various currencies.



Curious about XRP's current technology? Visit our complete modern guide.


Conclusion

The Ripple XRP Ledger was first created and launched in June 2012 by developers David Schwartz, Jed McCaleb, and Arthur Britto. Development started in 2011, the ledger went live in June 2012, and the company formed in September 2012. This timeline shows XRP as one of cryptocurrency's earliest innovations, predating most altcoins by years. Understanding when the XRP Ledger first created its foundation helps you appreciate why it remains relevant today after more than a decade of continuous operation.

Popular Articles

What Is Staking Crypto and How Does It Work? Complete Beginner's Guide

What Is Staking Crypto and How Does It Work? Complete Beginner's Guide

Have you ever wondered if your cryptocurrency could work for you while you sleep?Staking crypto offers exactly that opportunity—a way to earn passive income simply by holding certain digital assets.Th

Is Dogecoin Dead? A Data-Driven Look at DOGE’s Survival Through Market Cycles

Is Dogecoin Dead? A Data-Driven Look at DOGE’s Survival Through Market Cycles

Key TakeawaysDogecoin (DOGE) is not dead; it remains a liquid, actively traded asset with a market capitalization of over $20 billion as of late 2025.Although it trades below its all-time high of $0.7

Is It Worth Staking Crypto? Real Benefits vs Actual Risks

Is It Worth Staking Crypto? Real Benefits vs Actual Risks

Crypto staking promises passive income while you sleep, but is it really that simple?Many investors wonder if locking up their digital assets for rewards makes financial sense, especially when markets

How to Stake XRP? Platforms, Rewards, and Risks Explained

How to Stake XRP? Platforms, Rewards, and Risks Explained

Many XRP holders wonder if they can earn passive income through staking their tokens. While XRP doesn't support traditional Proof-of-Stake mechanisms, multiple platforms offer genuine ways to generate

Hot Crypto Updates

Argentina's President Mired in Crypto Scandal: The Calculated Launch and Political Manipulation Behind Libra's Collapse

Argentina's President Mired in Crypto Scandal: The Calculated Launch and Political Manipulation Behind Libra's Collapse

Key Takeaways Argentine President Milei promoted the Libra cryptocurrency on February 14, 2025, which crashed 85% within hours, causing investor losses exceeding $251 millionCongressional investigatio

JPMorgan Launches Tokenized Money Market Fund on Ethereum: A Milestone in Traditional Finance's Blockchain Adoption

JPMorgan Launches Tokenized Money Market Fund on Ethereum: A Milestone in Traditional Finance's Blockchain Adoption

Key Takeaways JPMorgan Asset Management debuts its first tokenized money market fund on Ethereum mainnetQualified investors gain on-chain access to U.S. dollar yields backed by Treasury securitiesThe

XRP Price Breaks Critical Support: Technical Analysis Reveals Deep Pullback Risks and Trading Strategies

XRP Price Breaks Critical Support: Technical Analysis Reveals Deep Pullback Risks and Trading Strategies

Key Takeaways XRP price breaks below critical $2.40 support level, technical indicators signal intensifying bearish momentumRelative Strength Index (RSI) and moving averages form death cross, indicati

StraitsX Launches on Solana: Singapore and U.S. Dollar Stablecoins Enable Instant Currency Exchange in Digital Forex Revolution

StraitsX Launches on Solana: Singapore and U.S. Dollar Stablecoins Enable Instant Currency Exchange in Digital Forex Revolution

Key Takeaways StraitsX to launch Singapore Dollar (XSGD) and U.S. Dollar (XUSD) stablecoins on Solana blockchainUsers can execute instant SGD/USD swaps on Solana network with significantly improved tr

Trending News

Exclusive interview with Sherry, the founding engineer of Aptos: Meta Blockchain "OG"'s technical journey to build a "global trading engine"

Exclusive interview with Sherry, the founding engineer of Aptos: Meta Blockchain "OG"'s technical journey to build a "global trading engine"

Against the backdrop of increasingly fierce competition in the public chain, Aptos is steadily moving towards its strategic positioning as a “global trading engine” through technological innovation an

Kodiak Sciences Announces Pricing of Upsized Public Offering of Common Stock

Kodiak Sciences Announces Pricing of Upsized Public Offering of Common Stock

PALO ALTO, Calif., Dec. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Kodiak Sciences Inc. (Nasdaq: KOD), a precommercial retina focused biotechnology company committed to researching

Oil jumps over 1% on Venezuela oil blockade

Oil jumps over 1% on Venezuela oil blockade

Oil prices rose more than 1 percent on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump ordered “a total and complete” blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering

Tesla forced to revise Autopilot and FSD language after deceptive marketing ruling

Tesla forced to revise Autopilot and FSD language after deceptive marketing ruling

The post Tesla forced to revise Autopilot and FSD language after deceptive marketing ruling appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. A California administrative law

Related Articles

What Is Staking Crypto and How Does It Work? Complete Beginner's Guide

What Is Staking Crypto and How Does It Work? Complete Beginner's Guide

Have you ever wondered if your cryptocurrency could work for you while you sleep?Staking crypto offers exactly that opportunity—a way to earn passive income simply by holding certain digital assets.Th

Is Dogecoin Dead? A Data-Driven Look at DOGE’s Survival Through Market Cycles

Is Dogecoin Dead? A Data-Driven Look at DOGE’s Survival Through Market Cycles

Key TakeawaysDogecoin (DOGE) is not dead; it remains a liquid, actively traded asset with a market capitalization of over $20 billion as of late 2025.Although it trades below its all-time high of $0.7

Is It Worth Staking Crypto? Real Benefits vs Actual Risks

Is It Worth Staking Crypto? Real Benefits vs Actual Risks

Crypto staking promises passive income while you sleep, but is it really that simple?Many investors wonder if locking up their digital assets for rewards makes financial sense, especially when markets

How to Stake XRP? Platforms, Rewards, and Risks Explained

How to Stake XRP? Platforms, Rewards, and Risks Explained

Many XRP holders wonder if they can earn passive income through staking their tokens. While XRP doesn't support traditional Proof-of-Stake mechanisms, multiple platforms offer genuine ways to generate

Sign Up on MEXC
Sign Up & Receive Up to 10,000 USDT Bonus