Businessman and investor Jake Claver has issued a new warning that is intensifying speculation about a potential supply crunch in the XRP market.
In a short post on X, Claver stated that "Trades on OTC for XRP are taking longer than usual to settle," suggesting that liquidity in over-the-counter markets, where institutions typically acquire large blocks of XRP, is tightening.
The warning comes shortly after Claver appeared on a podcast explaining how institutional demand is rapidly consuming the available XRP supply outside public exchanges.
Institutional Buyers Reportedly Consuming XRP Behind the Scenes
During the podcast, Claver revealed that only between one and two billion XRP remain accessible across OTC desks and dark pools. These private liquidity venues are preferred by institutions because they offer the ability to execute large orders without immediately impacting the market.
According to Claver, the launch of several XRP spot ETFs accelerated the depletion of this hidden supply.
Trades on OTC for XRP are taking longer than usual to settle
— Jake Claver, QFOP (@beyond_broke) December 6, 2025
Within the first week of ETF activity, roughly 800 million XRP were reportedly absorbed, dramatically shrinking the amount of XRP institutions can quietly acquire before needing to source liquidity elsewhere. Claver framed this sudden drawdown as a sign that institutional accumulation is ramping up more aggressively than many realize.
Longer Settlement Times Seen as a Warning Signal
Claver’s new comment that OTC trades are taking longer to settle is being interpreted as an early sign of mounting scarcity. Delays in settlement often occur when brokers struggle to locate sufficient supply, or when competition among large buyers increases behind the scenes.
Although Claver did not elaborate further, the timing of his remark, coming right after his detailed supply analysis, suggests he believes the OTC market is already becoming strained as institutional demand continues to accelerate.
In the same podcast, Claver explained that once the remaining OTC liquidity is exhausted, institutions will be forced to source XRP from public exchanges. This shift could put upward pressure on XRP’s price due to the far more limited liquidity available on open markets.
He noted that the market is still in the early phase of this transition, and that ETF-driven demand is only beginning to reshape the supply landscape.
Growing Discussions About an Impending XRP Supply Shock
Claver’s comments have added new momentum to ongoing discussions within the XRP community about a possible supply shock. Analysts argue that if institutional demand continues at its current pace and private liquidity dries up, XRP could experience a structural tightening that impacts price dynamics significantly.
For now, Claver’s warning about slower OTC settlements serves as another indication that XRP’s supply is being absorbed faster than expected, possibly setting the stage for a major market shift in the months ahead.