XRP Account Reserve Requirement

Beyond the per-transaction fee, the XRP Ledger requires every account to maintain a minimum XRP balance called the base reserve. As of 2024–2026, the base reserve is 1 XRP. This amount must be held in the wallet at all times and cannot be spent on transactions.

Why Is There a Reserve Requirement?

The reserve requirement exists to prevent the XRP Ledger's database from being flooded with millions of empty or dust accounts. Each account occupies space in the shared global ledger, and requiring a minimum balance ensures that only accounts with genuine intent can be created. Without this mechanism, bad actors could spam the network with millions of worthless accounts at virtually no cost.

How to Activate a New XRP Wallet

To activate a new XRP wallet, you must send at least 1 XRP to the new address. Until this threshold is met, the address is not considered an active account on the XRPL and cannot send transactions. Most cryptocurrency exchanges and wallets display this requirement clearly when you create or fund a new XRP address.

Reserve Requirements for Objects

In addition to the base reserve, each object you own in the XRPL — such as trust lines (for holding issued tokens), open offers in the DEX, and escrows — requires an additional owner reserve of 0.2 XRP per object. This incentivizes users to remove unused objects from the ledger, keeping the database clean.

Can the Reserve Amount Change?

Yes. The XRP Ledger validators can vote to change the reserve amounts. The base reserve has been reduced over time as the XRP price increased, ensuring the dollar cost of activation remains accessible to users worldwide.