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Ethereum and XRP are two of the largest cryptocurrencies, and their market capitalization is one of the clearest ways to compare their values. Ethereum is firmly entrenched as the second-largest cryptocurrency, while XRP is following closely behind, although it was recently overtaken by BNB in market cap rankings.  This disparity naturally leads to a valuation exercise that many investors revisit during periods of interest: how much would each XRP token be worth if its market cap matched Ethereum’s, both at current levels and at Ethereum’s all-time high? XRP With Ethereum’s Current Market Capitalization At the time of comparison, Ethereum is trading around $3,035, having increased by about 1.9% in the past 24 hours. This gives it a market capitalization of roughly $366 billion. XRP, on the other hand, is trading at $1.88, holds a market cap of about $113.8 billion.  Related Reading: Here’s The XRP Fractal That Says Price Is Headed To $27 Using MarketCapOf’s circulating-supply-based calculation, XRP would trade at approximately $6.04 if its total valuation matched Ethereum’s current market cap. This represents a 3.21x increase from XRP’s present price level. In relative terms, XRP is shown to be valued at roughly 0.31x of Ethereum’s market capitalization. The comparison is purely mathematical and does not factor in changes to supply. It only shows how much additional capital would be required for XRP to stand on equal footing with Ethereum as things stand today. XRP’s Valuation If It Reaches Ethereum’s All-Time High The picture changes further when Ethereum’s all-time high valuation is used as the benchmark. Ethereum’s peak market cap, which was recorded during its all-time high price of $4,946 in August, is around $583.8 billion. If XRP were to command that same valuation, MarketCapOf estimates that each XRP unit would be priced at about $9.64. This implies a 5.13x increase from XRP’s current price. Related Reading: XRP Stochastic RSI Just Touched 0.0 For The Second Time In History Under this scenario, XRP is valued at roughly 0.20x of Ethereum’s all-time high market capitalization. An investor holding 1,000 XRP today would see that position valued at about $1,880 at current prices, around $6,040 if XRP matched Ethereum’s present market cap, and $9,640 if it reached Ethereum’s peak valuation. The numbers show the scale of the gap that still exists between the two assets, even as XRP is now starting to attract institutional attention. That institutional angle has become increasingly relevant following the launch of Spot XRP exchange-traded funds, which have begun pulling in fresh capital from both professional and traditional investors. Interestingly, the valuation levels implied by the MarketCapOf comparison are conservative when placed next to XRP price projections circulating among crypto analysts. Matching Ethereum’s current or peak market capitalization places XRP in the $6 to $9.64 range. These figures are notably lower than some of the double-digit and triple-digit targets above $100 proposed by a few crypto analysts. Featured image from Freepik, chart from Tradingview.com

The idea of the XRP price reaching a four-figure valuation continues to circulate across crypto market discussions, but analysts argue that such expectations are misaligned with realistic timelines. While long-term upside is not dismissed outright, a renowned crypto trader says 2026 is not the inflection window for a $1,000 XRP price, emphasizing patience, structural market maturation, and a longer investment horizon. XRP Price’s Near-Term Expectations Reset The debate around XRP’s long-term valuation has resurfaced following renewed community discussion sparked by a widely circulated price forecast highlighted by Uphold. This forecast suggested that the XRP price could eventually reach $1,000 in 2030. The projection prompted analysts and traders to reframe expectations around timing rather than destination. While some acknowledged the long-term possibility, commentary emphasized that 2026 lacks the structural conditions required to support such a valuation, shifting the focus toward patience and extended adoption cycles. Related Reading: Popular Crypto Founder Dumps Millions In Ethereum, Here’s What He’s Buying A prominent market commentator known as Pharaoh reinforced this position by explicitly ruling out 2025 and 2026 as viable timeframes for such a move. His stance aligns with the view that XRP’s growth trajectory should be evaluated through a long-term lens rather than short-term price spikes. According to this perspective, price discovery at that scale would require sustained institutional integration, deeper utility-driven demand, and time for macro and regulatory clarity to translate into capital inflows. The message to investors is straightforward: suppress short-term noise and avoid anchoring expectations to arbitrary calendar years. Diverging Views Expose The Limits Of Short-Term Price Optimism In a separate post, Pharaoh, reflecting a traditional finance perspective, cautioned holders against short-term, click-driven hype, aligning with Don Kwok’s assessment that rapid gains are unrealistic. That caution is reinforced by XRP’s recent trajectory. Despite recovering from its 2024 drawdown and maintaining relative stability through late 2025, price action has remained range-bound compared to the scale required for exponential upside. Even with the launch and early inflows of XRP-focused exchange-traded products, the impact on spot price has been incremental rather than transformative. Institutional activity, strategic partnerships, and ongoing ecosystem development have improved XRP’s structural positioning, yet none have produced the liquidity surge or demand shock necessary to justify rapid escalation toward triple- or quadruple-digit levels. Related Reading: Can Dogecoin Price Reach $1 In 2026? Analysts Reveal What To Expect This disconnect highlights a key constraint: adoption and institutional validation do not automatically translate into immediate price repricing. Capital rotation into XRP-linked products has so far been measured, and partnership announcements have tended to reinforce long-term utility narratives rather than trigger speculative inflows. As a result, expectations of an accelerated move to $1,000 overlook how slowly large-scale capital typically enters and reshapes mature digital asset markets. These perspectives converge on a single conclusion. While opinions differ on XRP’s ultimate ceiling, there is broad agreement that the asset’s current growth path favors gradual appreciation over explosive near-term gains. The debate, therefore, is not about destination, but about discipline—aligning projections with market mechanics, capital behavior, and realistic timelines rather than headline-driven hype. Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com

A major institutional player in global finance has made its position on XRP clear, placing the cryptocurrency at the center of its digital asset strategy. Franklin Templeton, an asset management firm handling over $1.6 trillion worth of assets, used a recent post on the social media platform X to explain why it is going deep into XRP as an asset, while also drawing attention to its Spot exchange-traded product, XRPZ. This interesting comment is part of a growing institutional confidence in XRP and the XRP Ledger. Franklin Templeton’s Strategic Entry With A Spot XRP ETF Franklin Templeton’s arrival in the XRP ETF space is one of the most significant endorsements of the token from a legacy financial institution. The firm launched the Franklin XRP Trust, trading under ticker XRPZ on the NYSE Arca in late November, offering investors regulated exposure to the digital asset without the operational complexity of holding the token directly.  Related Reading: Can Dogecoin Price Reach $1 In 2026? Analysts Reveal What To Expect The fund is structured as a grantor trust that holds XRP and calculates its net asset value daily based on established reference rates, with custody provided by Coinbase Custody Trust Company and administration by BNY Mellon.  Recent comments from leading voices at the fund manager reveal that the decision to launch a Spot XRP ETF is due to their strong belief in XRP and the XRP Ledger. Roger Bayston, Head of Digital Assets at Franklin Templeton, highlighted the XRP Ledger’s designed capability for real-time, low-cost settlement and efficient cross-border payments.  Furthermore, he noted that the altcoin’s market capitalization and role in global value transfer make it an important component worth regulated exposure for investors with a broad portfolio. The firm’s broader digital asset suite already includes Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, and XRP was the latest to join this year. Franklin Templeton traces its roots back to 1947 and has built a reputation of trillions in equity, fixed income, and multi-asset investments in markets all around the world. Its move into crypto ETFs, now encompassing Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP exposure, is part of many established asset managers now actively engaging in the crypto industry. Performance And Market Reception Of XRPZ Since Launch Several issuers received clearance for Spot XRP ETFs in 2025, making it possible for institutions and everyday investors to gain exposure to the cryptocurrencies through regulated means. Since their debut in November, the Spot ETFs, including XRPZ, have attracted meaningful capital flows. Related Reading: What Happens If The Bitcoin Price Closes 2025 In The Red? Analyst Answers Collectively, these products have drawn more than $1.16 billion in net inflows, maintaining consecutive days of inflows that stand in contrast to recent days of outflows in Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. Franklin Templeton’s XRPZ itself has grown its holdings past 100 million XRP, with a cumulative inflow of about $242 million at the time of writing.  Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com

Talk of XRP reaching $100 began gaining momentum this cycle, following the resolution of the legal battle involving Ripple and the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Interestingly, the attention in recent months has been toward XRP’s role in global finance and how this might have an effect on its price action.  That trend has led to different interpretations of how the XRP price can trade at $100 in the near future. A notable interpretation was recently articulated by analysts at Bayberry Capital, who proposed on the social media platform X that $100 should be seen as a liquidity event number, not a price target tied to timing. Why XRP At $100 Is A Liquidity Event Bayberry Capital’s outlook on XRP price shooting up to $100 is based on how markets reprice assets once their function becomes essential. According to the private digital asset investment firm, infrastructure assets do not typically rise in smooth, incremental moves. They tend to be re-rated when the market recognizes that their utility has changed from optional to necessary. Related Reading: XRP Price To Rally 690% To $15 In Unexpected ‘Measured Move’ Most digital assets rely on attention and continuous inflows of new buyers. However, XRP was designed differently as a liquidity instrument built to move value efficiently across systems. When demand is dictated by settlement and transactional use, price dynamics change. In that setting, value can be pulled upward by usage itself, not just by sentiment.  A liquidity event is a moment when an asset’s ability to be converted, transferred, or absorbed by the market changes materially and permanently. From this perspective, $100 is a natural price level for XRP to be at that point. Another element of the view by Bayberry Capital is the absence of a deadline for this to happen. The liquidity event where the XRP price is priced at $100 is not defined by a specific year. Instead, it depends on direction. If global finance keeps moving toward faster settlement and digital liquidity rails, assets built for that purpose will undoubtedly be repriced accordingly. How This View Connects To Other $100 XRP Predictions Bayberry Capital’s commentary exists alongside a broader set of long-term views that started after XRP’s legal clarity, its push to new all-time highs in mid-2025, and the different partnerships and acquisitions made by Ripple to increase the utility of XRP.  Related Reading: XRP Sees 80% Spike In Major Metric, Why This Matters For Price Appreciation Since then, several analysts and commentators have discussed scenarios where XRP could eventually trade at $100, with the proposed factors often tied to use in global settlement and institutional demand. Figures such as Zach Rector, crypto commentator 24hrscrypto, world’s highest IQ claimant Young Hoon Kim, and BarriC have all been linked to $100 XRP price scenarios over the coming years. These views are always debated by critics, particularly on market cap considerations, but they share a common assumption that XRP would need to function as a global payments infrastructure in order for this to happen. Featured image from Peakpx, chart from Tradingview.com

Standard Chartered analysts have predicted that the XRP price could surge by around 330%. They also outlined catalysts that could spark this price surge, which would lead to a new all-time high (ATH) for the Ripple-linked token.  Standard Chartered Predicts XRP Price Surge To $8 Standard Chartered’s global head of digital assets research, Geoff Hendrick, has predicted that the XRP price could surge to $8 by the end of 2026, which represents an increase of around 330%. This would also mark a new all-time high for the token, with its current ATH at around $3.84. The analyst expects the token to record such growth, as it now has legal clarity following the settlement of the Ripple-SEC lawsuit.  Related Reading: This Double Bottom Formation Could Send XRP Soaring To $2.5 Kendrick also expects the XRP price to surge to $8 on the back of regulatory clarity for the U.S. crypto industry and institutional adoption of the token through the XRP ETFs. The Standard Chartered analyst noted how the improving regulatory environment has made it easier for institutions to gain exposure to the token. Meanwhile, Ripple has been able to grow its payment system, which involves XRP, thanks to the regulatory-friendly environment. These XRP ETFs are notably seeing significant demand, which is bullish for the XRP price as it eyes a rally to $8 next year. SoSoValue data shows that these ETFs have yet to record a daily net outflow since the first spot fund launched last month. The XRP ETFs currently boast a net asset of $1.27 billion, which reprersents 1.12% of the token’s market cap.  Crypto pundit Unknow noted that these ETFs are absorbing the supply fast, which is why he predicts that a supply shock could happen by early 2026, sending the XRP price higher. The pundit also declared that next year is the inflection point where the altcoin shifts from speculation to global liquidity infrastructure.  XRP Is Preparing For a Breakout In an X post, crypto analyst TARA stated that the XRP price is approaching the critical $1.88 level and is in a very tight range, signaling a breakout is coming soon. The analyst noted that XRP needs to hold support at $1.87, even as Bitcoin approaches $88,000. She added that if the altcoin bounces from here and tests $1.88 again, it could break above that resistance and then hold it as support, which TARA noted would be a very bullish sign.  In another X post, she revealed that XRP’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) was trying to break to the upside. TARA further remarked that if today’s close is bullish, with a close above $1.88, it could fuel the next wave to $2.30 for the XRP price. A positive for XRP is that Glassnode data shows that XRP on exchanges has dropped to a seven-year low of 1.6 billion tokens, down from 3.76 billion in October.  Related Reading: XRP Hasn’t Entered A Bear Market Yet; Analyst Shares Why At the time of writing, the XRP price is trading at around $1.86, up in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap. Featured image from Adobe Stock, chart from Tradingview.com

XRP has recorded a notable surge in one of its most closely watched derivative indicators, which brings attention to how traders are positioning around the asset. Data shows that open interest tied to XRP derivatives jumped by about 80% within a very short four-hour window in the recent trading day, pointing to a sudden influx of leveraged activity.  Moves of this magnitude rarely happen in isolation and often point to growing tension beneath the surface of price action, especially when they occur without a clean breakout on the chart. A Four-Hour Reversal After Days Of Weak Participation The spike in open interest shows a rapid increase in the number of outstanding XRP futures and perpetual contracts. When open interest rises this quickly, it usually means traders are aggressively opening new positions, often using leverage. Related Reading: XRP Stochastic RSI Just Touched 0.0 For The Second Time In History The speed of the move is what separates this spike from routine fluctuations. Prior to the surge, XRP open interest had been trending lower, showing reduced trader engagement and a cooling derivatives environment.  However, this change was quickly reversed when open interest increased by over 80% in just a four-hour timeframe, culminating in the total number of outstanding contracts standing around 1.74 billion XRP at the time of writing. In terms of price, this translates to about $3.26 billion in exposure being held open across XRP futures markets, according to data from CoinGlass. Why This Setup Matters For XRP Price Appreciation XRP’s price action has been slow in recent days, with the cryptocurrency currently trading at $1.87. Price action has started to respond positively in the short term, though only modestly so far. XRP is up about 0.3% over the past 24 hours, a move that looks small on the surface. Related Reading: Can XRP Price Reach $10,000? Expert Says It’s Different Math, Different League However, when open interest expands this quickly and price begins to edge higher at the same time, it means that traders are leaning bullish and testing the upside, even if spot buyers have not yet committed in size. The lack of a strong breakout at this stage shows that the market is still probing for direction, but the balance has begun to tilt away from complete stagnation. The broader price action adds more context after zooming out slightly. XRP has gained roughly 0.8% over the past seven days, indicating a slow grind higher rather than a sudden impulse move. If price continues to inch higher and manages to clear nearby resistance levels, the elevated open interest could amplify upside moves as short sellers are forced to exit.  On the other hand, if XRP’s price action stalls or falls back despite the recent 0.3% daily and 0.8% weekly gains, then the growing leverage on one side increases the risk of a bigger pullback. In that sense, even these small percentage gains matter. Featured image from Adobe Stock, chart from Tradingview.com

XRP is once again trading in a zone that closely mirrors the conditions seen before its last historic breakout, drawing fresh attention from market watchers. Key momentum indicators suggest selling pressure is fading, while long-term holders appear to be quietly absorbing supply. Although price action remains cautious for now, the setup is sparking discussions about whether XRP is positioning itself for another major move once market confidence returns. A Rare Momentum Reset On The Higher Timeframe In a significant technical development on XRP’s high-timeframe charts, Steph is Crypto has highlighted that the Stochastic RSI on the 3-week interval has plummeted to a value of 0.00. This level represents a state of total compression for the oscillator, signaling a momentum shift that is rare in the asset’s trading history. Related Reading: XRP Price Trims Upside, Slow Decline Signals Seller Dominance The rarity of this signal cannot be overstated, as it has occurred only once before at the absolute depths of the 2022 bear market. Historically, when the indicator reaches zero, it serves as a definitive marker that the prevailing selling pressure has reached a point of total exhaustion. From a structural perspective, it indicates that the energy behind the downward trend has completely dried up. It is important to note that this does not guarantee an immediate recovery. When this technical phenomenon surfaced in previous cycles, it preceded a prolonged accumulation phase.  During that period, the price stabilized as smart money began to build positions, creating a foundation for the next major impulsive move toward the upside. Seeing this signal reappear now suggests that XRP’s downside risk is structurally limited at current valuations. It points to a market environment where long-term holders are actively absorbing the available supply, transitioning from a distribution phase to a period of strategic positioning. A Familiar Market Rhythm Is Emerging on XRP’s Long-Term Chart Altcoin Pioneers, in a recent update, highlighted a striking fractal pattern forming on XRP’s chart, suggesting that history may be repeating with remarkable accuracy. A 3-day chart comparison reveals strong similarities between the 2016–2017 market cycle and the current structure, both shaped by a prolonged ABC corrective phase before a major breakout. Related Reading: XRP Exchange Inflows Spike To End 2025: Will Price Decline Deepen? In the earlier cycle, XRP spent months completing its correction before launching into an explosive rally. The 2024 structure mirrors the past ABC pattern, while the ongoing 2025–2026 correction is aligning closely with the final C-wave down to the $1.87 region, though on a slightly shorter timeline. If this fractal continues to play out, Altcoin Pioneers believe XRP could be nearing the end of a painful shakeout phase, setting the stage for the next powerful upside leg. XRP has followed this script before, and those who held through the last cycle understand what’s coming next. Featured image from Peakpx, chart from Tradingview.com

XRP, Bitcoin, and Ethereum are displaying sharply diverging fund flow trends, with XRP emerging as the most accumulated digital asset in the latest CoinShares Digital Asset Fund Flows Weekly Report. With Bitcoin and Ethereum jointly recorded nearly $500 million in outflows, the data illustrates a shift in investor positioning away from the market’s largest assets toward select alternatives amid ongoing volatility. XRP Inflows Highlight Selective Demand Contrasting sharply with the redemptions sweeping through Bitcoin and Ethereum products, XRP has continued to register major inflows. CoinShares data shows XRP-linked investment vehicles attracted $70.2 million in new capital last week, reflecting ongoing interest from investors in these nascent ETF categories. Since their mid-October US launches, XRP has accumulated about $1.07 billion in inflows, a remarkable trajectory given the prevailing outflow environment for larger assets.  Related Reading: XRP Price May Be Bearish Below $2, But On-Chain Data Tells A Different Story This bifurcation in fund flows underscores a selective repositioning among investors. While broad risk assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum grapple with selling pressure, XRP’s performance shows that certain niche products are still attracting interest even in a downtrend. This pattern may be likely due to different expectations about regulations, adoption, or the impact of newly launched ETF products aimed at specific investors. Bit-Heavy Outflows: Bitcoin And Ethereum Under Pressure Despite their dominant roles in the market, Bitcoin and Ethereum endured significant net outflows during the reporting week ended December 29, contributing the lion’s share of the overall outflow figure. According to CoinShares, Bitcoin-linked products recorded approximately $443 million in redemptions, representing nearly the totality of the weekly withdrawal from crypto investment vehicles. Ethereum-focused products also saw $59.5 million exit, adding to a broader pattern of institutional caution toward the largest digital assets. These negative flows have accumulated since the mid-October US ETF launches, with Bitcoin recording roughly $2.8 billion and Ethereum about $1.6 billion in outflows over this period. The concentration of redemptions in the United States, where $460 million left digital asset funds, highlights a prevailing aversion among domestic investors toward reallocating capital into BTC and ETH during periods of price volatility and regulatory uncertainty. Related Reading: Banks Could Start Holding XRP Due To This Simple Change The sustained outflows amid weak sentiment reflect broader investor behavior during market stress. When capital flees established assets, it often signals profit-taking, risk reduction, or shifts into alternative strategies or cash positions, all of which can exert downward price pressure and prolong short-term weakness. For Bitcoin and Ethereum, this trend suggests that even their extensive adoption and liquidity have not insulated them from pullbacks in institutional demand. Overall, the latest fund flow data signals a clear rotation in investor attention. While Bitcoin and Ethereum continue to experience significant outflows, XRP is drawing capital, emphasizing a market environment where targeted assets are increasingly capturing the focus of both institutional and retail participants as 2026 approaches. Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com

The XRP price may be on the verge of its biggest rally yet, as a crypto analyst has forecast a dramatic 690% surge to $15 soon. According to the expert’s analysis, XRP is undergoing an unexpected measured move that has historically led to explosive price surges. While the current price structure depicts a bearish trend, the analyst remains confident that XRP could recover from the ongoing downside momentum and catch the market off guard with a parabolic move upwards. XRP Price Projected To Reach $15 From Under $2 Crypto market analyst Javon Marks has delivered a new outlook on XRP, highlighting a powerful continuation setup based on historical price behavior. In his analysis, Marks pointed out a measured move structure that previously defined a primary expansion phase for XRP.  Related Reading: XRP Stochastic RSI Just Touched 0.0 For The Second Time In History The analyst explained that XRP completed the full measured move after its breakout in 2017, delivering a sharp upside extension. According to him, the same technical conditions are reemerging in XRP’s current market structure, suggesting the potential for another significant price surge.  Marks emphasized that if the measured move plays out as expected, XRP could reach uncharted price levels above $15. He revealed that a surge to this point would represent nearly an eightfold increase from current trading levels below $2, equating to gains of more than 690%. Notably, this bullish scenario would mark a significant milestone for XRP, which has never been in double-digit territory and is presently trending downwards. The chart accompanying Marks’ analysis shows a long-term symmetrical triangle pattern that formed after XRP’s previous explosive rally during the 2017-2018 bull cycle. The cryptocurrency’s price had repeatedly respected converging trend lines, indicating sustained accumulation and compression over several years.  XRP broke above the upper boundary of this formation in late 2024, mirroring the same breakout seen during the previous cycle when the measured move occurred. This was followed by a strong price rally that continued into early 2025, pushing XRP above $3. Although the cryptocurrency delivered impressive gains for much of 2025, its price has since declined, falling below $2 and now trading at $1.87 after crashing by 15% over the past month, according to CoinMarketCap. A Downtrend Pressure Despite Short-Term Support On the flip side, crypto expert Marcus Cornivus notes that XRP remains in a downtrend, showing no signs of immediate recovery, as its market continues to be weighed down by persistent selling pressure. He said that XRP is holding just above a strong demand zone, where a short-term bounce is possible as buyers attempt to defend this area. Related Reading: XRP Price Must Stay Above This Level Or Crash To $0.9 Cornivus also stated that XRP’s overall trend and the bigger picture are bearish, with lower highs intact and the descending trendline still in control of price action. He highlighted that any bounce that fails to break and hold above the trendline would only lead to a temporary pullback. Additionally, if sellers retreat even briefly, he expects XRP to react sharply. The analyst has also revealed that if the demand zone fails, XRP’s downside continuation may accelerate.  Featured image from Pngtree, chart from Tradingview.com

In the evolving landscape, the narrative around XRP’s real use case is increasingly standing out in a market often driven by speculation. The altcoin is embedded in live financial workflows, particularly in cross-border payments and liquidity management. Its role as a bridge asset allows institutions to move value quickly, cheaply, and at scale, solving real inefficiencies in the global payments system. Why XRP Functions As A Bridge Asset In Global Payments This design choice is centered on understanding why its utility will drive price appreciation. An analyst known as SMQKE revealed on X that the core of this model is payment utility. XRP is designed to operate within the global payment infrastructure, and Ripple has integrated with existing financial systems to enhance speed, reduce costs, and improve settlement efficiency. Related Reading: Pundit Shares ‘Urgent Update’ With XRP Community – Here’s What He Said Through Ripple’s integrations, financial institutions adopt the network, and the altcoin is utilized directly to move value across borders. From a price perspective, this document outlines how institutional settlement activity has created a sustainable demand for XRP, supporting price appreciation through real transaction flow. Analyst Vet has highlighted the areas where XRP and the XRP Ledger were great in 2025. One is smart contracts, and a significant amount of development went into getting the alpha testnet live, where individuals can currently deploy and play around with it. Community awareness toward this also increased meaningfully. On the DeFi front, momentum came out strongly from late 2024, especially driven by meme coins. However, the activity dried out over the year. Baseline DEX activity is now higher than it was before the DeFi wave, but this raises the potential for more growth in 2026.  Furthermore, interoperability has made tangible progress as Wormhole went live, Axelar live became operational, and yield-bearing issued assets were bridged onto the XRPL. Currently, Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKP) appear to be a key enabler for trust-minimized bridging. On the application side, existing XRPL projects and wallets doubled down. Apps became more polished, with new feature-rich and better integrations, while no new app took over the community.  At the same time, tokenization stood out as one of the strongest verticals. RLUSD was a major milestone, complemented by smaller launches of other stablecoins and tokenized funds. The distribution channel of these assets needs a lot of work, which directly ties back to application-layer development. That’s why this year should be viewed as the foundation for 2026. How Fee Destruction Changes Economic Incentives Ripple’s XRP is designed to compete in low-fee markets and has built programmable economics. According to Xfinancebull, every transaction fee is destroyed; it is not paid to validators,  no middleman, and there is no inflation loop. Related Reading: Flare Launches New Way For XRP Investors To Earn This is because XRPL is designed to scale global payment rails, not enrich toll collectors. That’s why XRP is one of the few chains where volume is value, not congestion. Xfinancebull stated that this isn’t a trading feature, but it’s a monetary policy shift hidden at the protocol layer. Featured image from Pxfuel, chart from Tradingview.com

A crypto expert has addressed the arguments suggesting that the XRP price could never reach $10,000. He explained that XRP is in a different league from most cryptocurrencies, making traditional valuation methods less effective. The expert also asserts that XRP is designed to handle large-scale institutional flows and, as a result, a $10,000 valuation cannot be ruled out entirely in the long run.  Why The XRP Price Could Reach $10,000 Stern Drew, the founder and CEO of Stageyo, the world’s first digital marketplace for stage performers, has weighed in on the long-running debate around the future price potential of XRP. On X, the founder argued that many projections dismissing a $10,000 XRP price are flawed because they apply the wrong framework and mathematical models to the asset.  Related Reading: Pundit Shares Why XRP Will Become Expensive And A $1,000 Price Tag Is Possible According to him, XRP should not be evaluated using the same assumptions as retail-driven cryptocurrencies. Drew explained that comparisons with Bitcoin and other digital assets often ignore scale entirely. He pointed out that a single Ripple partner can move more value in one day for XRP than Bitcoin processes in an entire year. This difference in settlement volume is central to how the expert believes that XRP’s future value should be gauged.  The Stageyo founder further stressed that XRP was primarily designed for institutional settlement rather than speculative trading. Its core use case is tied to moving large volumes of capital across borders effectively. In that context, Drew has suggested that price expectations that rule out levels like $10,000 based on retail demand or historical crypto cycles are not relevant.  He argued that low prices do not make sense when a cryptocurrency is handling massive institutional inflows. If XRP is used for high-value settlements, a higher price per token increases efficiency. This means fewer tokens will be needed to transfer the same amount of value, reducing friction and speeding up transactions.  Drew described this concept as a different kind of math that applies to a “different league” of financial activity. Rather than focusing on market capitalization to gauge a cryptocurrency’s future value, the expert emphasizes liquidity and transaction throughput. From this perspective, he links the possibility of XRP reaching $10,000 to its intended role in the global financial system.  XRP Positions For Major Role In Global Banking  In a separate X post, Drew drew attention to a recent statement made by the Bank of Japan (BOJ). Notably, the BOJ disclosed that both Japan and South Korea are working together on developing blockchain infrastructure, subtly referencing XRP and Ripple in its announcement.  Related Reading: XRP Open Interest Crashes To Levels Not Seen Since 2024, Can It Also Rally 600%? Reports reveal that official discussions are currently private, but their impact is expected to be significant. The BOJ highlighted that XRP holders should watch out and brace for future developments, as this collaboration could become a transformative moment for Ripple.  Notably, the crypto payments company has already established relationships with some of Japan’s largest financial institutions, including SBI Holdings. Moreover, South Korea has been a major investor in XRP over the years. Featured image from iStock, chart from Tradingview.com

XRP’s recent price action in recent weeks has been under selling pressure, with the cryptocurrency struggling to reclaim the psychologically important $2 level. From a technical standpoint, the structure still leans bearish and lacks strong upside momentum.  However, beneath this subdued price behavior, activity on the XRP Ledger points to a more complex context that conflicts with what is visible on price charts alone. XRP Price Weakness Meets Notable Network Activity XRP’s price has been trading below $2 over the past few weeks, and this level has repeatedly acted as resistance during recovery attempts. Momentum indicators like the 50-, 100- and 200-day simple moving averages are showing hesitation instead of sustained buying pressure, despite the inflow streak of Spot XRP ETFs. This has left the price of XRP vulnerable to extended consolidation or further downside as long as buyers fail to regain higher technical ground.  Related Reading: Saylor Reveals What Will Drive Bitcoin Price To New ATHs – It’s Not What You Think Bitcoin and the wider crypto market conditions have not helped. Capital rotation away from altcoins has limited upside follow-through, leaving XRP and many other large-market-cap cryptocurrencies exposed to bearish moves. However, on-chain data from the XRP Ledger tells a very different story. Network metrics show a steady streak of high activity, with daily transaction counts recently approaching 900,000 payments per day, making it one of the busiest stretches in months. This increase has not been smooth or gradual either, as data shows clusters of larger-value transfers occurring alongside the rise in overall volume.  This data is from the XRPL tracker website XRPScan, which shows that the daily transaction numbers have been consistently above 900,000 throughout December, with some daily spikes above 1 million transactions. The pattern suggests that the activity extends more than what you would expect for the current bearish momentum, considering that periods of high retail activity like this are expected to contribute to bullish momentum. XRP Payments Activity. Source: XRPScan Price And On-Chain Divergence Leaves XRP At A Crossroads The growing gap between XRP’s bearish price structure and strengthening on-chain activity raises questions about how the market is currently valuing network usage.  A closer look at payment volume between accounts shows that hundreds of millions of XRP are being transferred daily, with several days seeing flows exceeding one billion XRP. In dollar terms, this represents billions worth of value moving across the ledger each day, despite the lack of upward momentum in price. Related Reading: Banks Could Start Holding XRP Due To This Simple Change Interestingly, the number of active users (source tag + destination tag) has also been hovering in the hundreds of thousands, which is far more than you would expect for a cryptocurrency struggling with price action. An explanation is that XRP traders are only actively trading in the short term.  XRP Active Users. Source: XRPScan This divergence puts focus on whether the current on-chain strength represents early positioning ahead of deeper adoption or institutional developments tied to Ripple, or whether it will continue to be disconnected from near-term demand in the open market. Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com

Comments from Galaxy Digital’s leadership have looked into what ultimately sustains value in the crypto market. In a recent YouTube discussion centered on 2026 expectations for Bitcoin, crypto, and artificial intelligence, Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz and Head of Research Alex Thorn singled out XRP and Cardano, questioning whether even the strongest communities can survive if real usage fails to expand when users have a vast number of alternatives to choose from. Galaxy Digital Leadership Raises Questions About Community Versus Utility During the YouTube discussion, Mike Novogratz presented the utility debate through the lens of capital allocation. He explained that the real question is what an investor chooses when presented with many viable options. If capital can flow into something like SpaceX, then crypto assets must compete on similar grounds. Related Reading: Charles Hoskinson Reveals What XRP And Cardano Are Already Doing 100x Better He acknowledged that XRP and Cardano both have deeply committed communities, but questioned whether that loyalty can be sustained if users do not see any real utility with those ecosystems. “Can Ripple hold it together? Can Cardano hold it together?” Novogratz said. In drawing comparisons, Novogratz referenced Charles Hoskinson, noting his success in maintaining Cardano’s community over time despite it being a “blockchain that people don’t really use a lot.” He made similar observations about XRP’s following, which has a strong community. However, he posed a direct question about sustainability: “Can you keep it together when there are more and more options?” Recent crypto market dynamics have caused capital flows to become more selective. Developers and teams behind blockchain ecosystems all know this, and this is why there has been a race to demonstrate usage, revenue models, or clear value flows tied directly to their tokens. According to Novogratz, that doesn’t happen overnight. It’s probably a year-long process, not a one to three-month process. Cardano And XRP Proving Real-World Relevance The questions raised during the Galaxy Digital discussion arrive at a time when both Cardano and XRP are actively trying to strengthen their utility narratives. Recent events have seen Cardano attempting to reinforce its practical relevance through initiatives like the Midnight sidechain. Midnight is a privacy-focused Cardano sidechain network designed to support confidential smart contracts and selective data disclosure.  Related Reading: Flare Launches New Way For XRP Investors To Earn Midnight is intended as a way to attract enterprise and institutional use cases that require compliance-friendly privacy, an area where public blockchains have traditionally struggled. XRP, on the other hand, is taking a different path through Ripple’s hard work to increase the utility of the XRP Ledger. Ripple has been expanding utility around Ripple USD (RLUSD), its US dollar-backed stablecoin, including broader deployment across multiple Layer-2 networks.  Ripple has also been on a partnership spree this year in moves to strengthen the utility of the XRP ecosystem, with about $4 billion spent on major acquisitions in 2025. The company also recently partnered with Doppler Finance to explore collaboration in XRP-based yield infrastructure and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization on the XRP Ledger, which is another added utility. Featured image from Pxfuel, chart from Tradingview.com

XRP is trading around $1.87 and has slipped below the $2 mark after a recent slide. According to market trackers, the token is down about 30% in the fourth quarter of 2025, yet some analysts say the current weakness may be part of a larger build-up that has preceded strong rallies before. Investors and commentators are watching price action closely as debate grows over whether the token is setting up for a sharp rebound or more weakness. Related Reading: Bitcoin Forecasts For 2026 Range From $65K To $250K As Sentiment Hits ‘Extreme Fear’ Historical Accumulation Patterns Based on reports from chart watchers, XRP has shown what some call repeatable accumulation phases in past cycles. One run of consolidation unfolded from early 2015 through early 2017. During that span a steep drop took XRP from $0.00885 to $0.005, and later it rallied hard, climbing to about $3.30 by January 2018. A second cycle ran from mid-2023 into late 2024, where an August to November slide saw prices fall from $0.62 to $0.50, before a quick push up to roughly $3.4 in January 2025. Analysts point to these past moves as a pattern that could provide clues about what happens next. Recent Downtrend And Support Levels Reports show that since October 2025, XRP has fallen from about $2.8 to the current price near $1.84. Technical commentators have highlighted that the $1.8–$2 band, which acted as resistance earlier, may now be acting as support after recent trading. One analyst framed the present setup as an ABC reset, a short-term corrective structure that sometimes precedes renewed upward movement. Still, traders are split; some see a base forming, while others view the decline as evidence of continued selling pressure. The most hated $XRP rally is about to start! ???? pic.twitter.com/HTwbTIwxZ2 — STEPH IS CRYPTO (@Steph_iscrypto) December 16, 2025 Market Voices And Possible Catalysts According to community commentators, legal and market actions could influence XRP’s next leg. The potential end of a long-running SEC case, the arrival of XRP-focused ETFs, and pending legislation known as the Clarity Act were all cited as items that might change investor sentiment. One market watcher went so far as to say this could become the “most hated” rally, a phrase meant to describe a sudden surge that comes while many remain doubtful and frustrated. Utility Versus Price Several observers have urged a focus on real-world use. According to Aljarrah, the token’s value comes from practical utility and improved liquidity, which allows larger transfers with fewer tokens and makes the payment rails more efficient. People obsess over price, but XRP’s value is in its utility. A higher price strengthens liquidity, efficiency, and adoption. Let the tech and leadership do the work, short-term noise doesn’t matter. — Black Swan Capitalist (@VersanAljarrah) December 21, 2025 Related Reading: Big Bet On Ethereum: CEO Sees 10X TVL Growth In 2026 Price moves matter, he said, but not as speculation—rather as a factor that can broaden adoption by improving liquidity and network function. Traders should note that past patterns do not guarantee future results. While the accumulation thesis rests on historical parallels and technical charts, the market remains sensitive to news and flows. Selling now could mean missing gains if a rally follows, some warn; others say patience and careful sizing remain essential. For investors, the coming weeks may tell whether the current slump is the end of a retracement or the start of another climb. Featured image from LumerB/Getty Images, chart from TradingView

Crypto analyst and XRP advocate Levi Rietveld recently shared a short post on X stating that “$XRP is built for this,” alongside a video clip of US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaking about reviewing regulatory barriers around blockchain, stablecoins, and new payment systems like the crypto industry. Bessent’s comments focused on reforming financial infrastructure so capital markets can function more efficiently for mainstream users. In turn, Rietveld viewed those comments as closely matching the original purpose XRP was created to serve. Related Reading: Ethereum’s 2026 Overhaul Aims To Cut Costs, Boost Speed, Limit Censorship What XRP Was Designed To Do In the video clip that Levi Rietveld shared on X alongside his statement of XRP being built for this, Scott Bessent outlined a policy direction that places emphasis on evaluating regulatory impediments to blockchain technology, stablecoins, and new payment systems.  Bessent stated that officials will take a close look at regulatory impediments to blockchain, stablecoins, and new payment systems and consider reforms to unleash the power of American capital markets. Notably, this plan corresponds to a more crypto-positive approach adopted by the current US administration under President Donald Trump.  $XRP Is Built For This! pic.twitter.com/WNDUoeFPC4 — Levi | Crypto Crusaders (@LeviRietveld) December 22, 2025 These are a part of efforts by the US government to modernize crypto regulation and define clearer frameworks for digital assets, including proposed acts aimed at bringing clarity to markets and stablecoins. One example of this is the Clarity Act, a legislative proposal that aims to clearly define the regulatory treatment of digital assets, separate payment-focused tokens from securities, and assign clearer oversight roles to agencies such as the SEC and CFTC.  Bessent’s comments focused on improving payment systems and removing friction around new financial technology. XRP proponents like Levi Rietveld would quickly point out that the theme aligns closely with how the cryptocurrency and the XRP Ledger were engineered.  The XRP Ledger works with transparent settlement, predictable transaction costs, and finality that does not depend on mining or complex smart contract execution. These characteristics are important for institutions that need clarity and reliability.  In practice, XRP’s real-world role is most visible through payment solutions developed by Ripple. Banks and other financial institutions do not need to hold large balances of foreign currencies, since XRP can be used as an intermediate asset during settlement.  XRP’s Current Regulatory And Institutional Position Progress on regulatory clarity has been helping real institutional infrastructure around XRP. Multiple Spot XRP ETFs have gained approval and launched in 2025 and early numbers are positive, with over $1.14 billion worth of inflows. Bloomberg estimates suggest these funds could draw $5 billion to $7 billion in institutional capital by 2026.  Related Reading: Could XRP Make Trillionaires? Tech Firm Founder Thinks It’s Possible This creates new avenues for asset managers, pension funds, and other institutional allocators to hold XRP within traditional investment vehicles. All these cannot be possible without the clear framework for blockchain, stable coins, and new payment systems proposed by Bessent. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

XRP’s open interest has reportedly crashed to lows not seen since last year, when the altcoin surged by around 600%. On-chain analytics platform CryptoQuant noted that this development could be bullish for XRP as it looks to rebound to new highs.  XRP’s Open Interest Drops To Lowest Level Since 2024 In a blog post, CryptoQuant analyst Arab Chain revealed that XRP’s open interest on Binance has fallen to its lowest level since 2024. The analyst noted that analysis of XRP Ledger data on the crypto exchange shows a clear rebalancing in the derivatives market, with open interest falling to almost $453 million, the lowest level since the end of last year.  Related Reading: Why You Should Pay Attention To XRP’s Exchange Netflows This Month Arab Chain noted that this development reflects a fundamental shift in trader behavior and confirms a significant decrease in leverage usage compared to previous periods. Notably, the XRP price looks to have been fueled by leverage in the early parts of this year. The analyst noted that open interest in XRP futures contracts exceeded $1 billion on several occasions, which coincided with strong price surges.  The XRP open interest also rose again in mid-2025 to levels similar to those recorded in the early months of the year, sparking significant volatility for XRP. However, Arab Chain noted that the current landscape is “markedly different.” Open interest has declined gradually and then sharply, indicating a significant exit by short-term speculators.  Meanwhile, the analyst explained that the decrease in XRP open interest carries dual implications. The first is that the decline in risk appetite and weakening momentum in the derivatives market explain the volatile price behavior in the absence of strong, liquidity-driven breakouts.  The second is that the contraction represents a healthy structural development, as it reduces the risk of forced liquidations and mitigates the abnormal pressures associated with excessive leverage. Arab Chain noted that periods of low open interest often represent transitional phases, during which the market shifts froma highly speculative environment to a calmer one that relies heavily on genuine spot demand.  XRP May Be Preparing For Another Significant Rally Crypto analysts have suggested that XRP may be preparing for another significant rally, although it remains to be seen if it could rally 600% like last year. In an X post, crypto analyst Niels stated that the altcoin is forming a higher low around this level. He noted that this is a similar structure that happened in April this year, before a new all-time high (ATH). The analyst added that a push above $2 could put the bulls in control.  Related Reading: XRP Stochastic RSI Just Touched 0.0 For The Second Time In History Crypto analyst Chart Nerd predicted that XRP could reach a new ATH on its next leg to the upside. This came as he noted that the altcoin was in the middle of an ABC reset. His accompanying chart showed that XRP could reach as high as $4.5 on this impulsive move to the upside, which is expected to happen in the first half of next year.  At the time of writing, the XRP price is trading at around $1.84, down in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com

Banks have mostly stayed on the sidelines when it comes to holding XRP directly, even as interest in digital assets continues to increase. That hesitation has not been due to a lack of utility or demand but to strict regulatory capital rules that made holding XRP economically impractical for regulated institutions. However, a small adjustment in how XRP is treated under global banking rules could remove that barrier and change how banks interact with the cryptocurrency. Why Banks Can’t Hold XRP The main obstacle preventing banks from holding XRP has been its treatment under the global banking framework known as Basel III. Basel III is an international regulatory framework developed after the 2008 financial crisis that introduces higher quality and quantity of capital requirements in the international banking sector.  Right now, XRP currently falls into the Type 2 crypto exposure under Basel III, which is set up with rules for assets that pose higher risks. Under these rules, most cryptocurrencies, including XRP, fall into a high-risk category that carries a punitive capital requirement. Banks are required to apply a 1,250% risk weight to such assets, implying they must set aside far more capital than the value of the XRP itself. This means that under the Basel III framework, for every $1 of XRP exposure, a bank must hold $12.50 in capital. This dynamic was recently explained by a crypto commentator with the name Stern Drew on the social media platform X.  In a post on X, Drew explained that this capital inefficiency alone accounts for years of institutional hesitation. The issue has not been demand nor technology, but the regulatory capital treatment that made holding XRP irrational from a balance sheet perspective. The Regulatory Inflection Point The conversation around XRP’s regulatory status is becoming increasingly important to its long-term outlook. Interestingly, Drew’s analysis goes further by pointing to what he describes as an inflection point that markets may be overlooking. Now that legal and regulatory clarity surrounding cryptocurrencies is improving, XRP could be reclassified into a lower-risk category under Basel III. The endgame is that XRP is on a clear path to becoming a Tier-1 digital asset for global institutions, which is mostly for tokenized traditional assets and stablecoins with strong mechanisms.  If that reclassification occurs, the economics will change immediately. XRP would become acceptable for direct balance sheet exposure, allowing banks to custody, deploy, and settle using the asset without the need of excessive capital.  This is not a discussion about short-term price movements but about capital mechanics that determine whether large pools of institutional money can participate in holding XRP at all. In this case, liquidity provisioning of XRP by banks would change from off-balance-sheet usage to direct institutional ownership. Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com

Crypto analyst Skipper has drawn attention to a significant development for XRP, even as it continues to trade below the psychological $2 level. Based on this development, the selling pressure could be easing for the altcoin, while ETFs continue to contribute to buying pressure as they maintain their inflow streak.  Analyst Reveals XRP’s Stochastic RSI Has Hit 0.0 In an X post, Skipper revealed that XRP’s stochastic RSI has hit 0.0 for only the second time ever. This came as he noted that the altcoin has had a rough run, as it is down 35% in this quarter, 10% this year, marking its first yearly loss since 2022. The analyst added that XRP is also below the key $2 level.  Related Reading: XRP Price Must Stay Above This Level Or Crash To $0.9 However, Skipper suggested that analyst Steph’s discovery about XRP’s Stoch RSI hitting 0.0 on the 3-week chart provides some optimism. He noted that this has only happened once before, which was in 2020, right before the altcoin bottomed at $0.28 during the Terra LUNA crash.  Skipper also pointed to Steph’s statement that this could mean selling pressure is almost gone for XRP, though a quick bounce may not occur. The altcoin notably stayed flat for months in 2022 before it recovered. The analyst also mentioned that the drop in the stoch RSI marks cycle lows, not short-term trades.   While the selling pressure looks to be cooling, XRP continues to see significant buying pressure from the XRP ETFs, which marks a positive for the altcoin. SoSo Value data shows that these funds have recorded daily net inflows since they launched. As a result, they hold net assets of $1.25 billion, which is almost 1% of XRP’s market cap.  XRP Supercycle To Happen Next Year Self-acclaimed largest IQ holder YoungHoon Kim stated in an X post that the XRP supercycle will happen next year. Kim had earlier predicted that the altcoin could reach $10 or higher next year, which would mark new all-time highs (ATHs). This looks to be based on his belief that “all crypto will eventually connect with XRP.”   Related Reading: Pundit Explains Why This Changes Everything For XRP In The Long Term In the meantime, crypto analyst Crypto King has stated that patience is key as XRP looks to reclaim key levels. The analyst noted that the price is holding just above the $1.85 critical support and that a strong bounce and a reclaim of $1.98 would signal a momentum shift. He added that if that price level breaks, the first upside target is the first resistance at $2.58. Meanwhile, there is also room for the altcoin to rally to as high as $3.66 next.  At the time of writing, the XRP price is trading at around $1.86, down in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap. Featured image from iStock, chart from Tradingview.com

Flare Network has rolled out a new yield-focused product in collaboration with Upshift and Clearstar that offers XRP holders a way to earn returns without selling their XRP holdings. XRP’s price action has been bearish in recent weeks, and that calm has carried into the past trading sessions. The cryptocurrency is trading around $1.87, after staying confined between roughly $1.83 on the downside and $1.88 on the upside in the latest session.  This subdued price behavior has preoccupied recent discussions, but development around its ecosystem has continued quietly in the background.  Flare Launches New XRP Product Flare Network has officially introduced a new product designed to expand what XRP holders can do with their cryptocurrencies besides holding or trading. The product, which is called earnXRP, is positioned as the first on-chain yield solution that is fully denominated in XRP, and at the same time, addresses a long-standing gap in the ecosystem where earning yield typically required moving into stablecoins or other assets. Related Reading: The Decision That Could Change Everything For XRP Investors The launch is built around Flare’s FAssets system, which allows XRP to be represented on the network as FXRP on a one-to-one basis. To participate in earnXRP, holders deposit FXRP (XRP represented 1:1 on Flare) directly into an on-chain vault, where those assets are deployed across yield-generating strategies.  In return, users receive a receipt token that tracks their deposited FXRP along with any yield accrued over time, with earnings remaining fully denominated in XRP. Users receive earnXRP, which represents the user’s deposited FXRP plus any yield generated over time. This structure removes much of the complexity typically associated with DeFi participation. Strategy execution, rebalancing, and compounding are handled within the vault. Users can also request withdrawals at any time, a process where their earnXRP tokens are burned, and FXRP is returned to their wallet. Muted Price Reaction For The Altcoin Flare’s earnXRP is one of the few avenues XRP holders can participate in DeFi. FXRP is a 1:1 ERC-20 representation of XRP that unlocks DeFi utility not possible on the XRP Ledger alone.  Related Reading: XRP Price Falls To Critical Support Level, Is It Time To Panic? “Only 0.1% of XRP supply is utilized in DeFi, despite it being the 5th largest cryptocurrency by market cap. Users have not had an easy way to capture sustainably high returns. We’re excited to work with Flare and Clearstar to unlock XRP yield using the new Flare XRP Yield vault,” said Ethan, Growth Lead at Upshift. Despite the significance of the launch from a utility standpoint, the immediate market response has been limited. XRP is still trading within its recent range, with the price still below $1.9 and showing little reaction to the announcement.  This response shows that the altcoin is currently heavily influenced by broader market conditions and macro sentiment, which have weighed on price action across the entire sector. Featured image from Pngtree, chart from Tradingview.com

Crypto analyst Steph has pointed to an “interesting” chart, which has previously led to an XRP price rally. This came as the analyst also suggested that the altcoin may be forming a bottom in preparation for the next leg to the upside.  Analyst Shares Why This Chart Is Interesting For The XRP Price In an X post, Steph highlighted the 3-week XRP price chart, stating that it was “interesting” for one reason. He revealed that the Stochastic Relative Strength Index (RSI) has dropped to 0.00 on the 3-week timeframe, which is extremely rare and has only happened once before, which was the 2022 bear market bottom.  Related Reading: Pundit Explains Why This Changes Everything For XRP In The Long Term Steph further explained that on such a high timeframe, this indicator only reaches zero when selling pressure is fully exhausted, which is a positive for the XRP price. The analyst added that this means that momentum to the downside has dried up, although he warned that this doesn’t mean that price must instantly reverse.  Steph noted that the last time this signal appeared, the XRP price entered a long accumulation phase before the next major move higher. As such, the analyst claimed that this again suggests that the downside risk is structurally limited and that long-term holders are absorbing supply rather than distributing. He further remarked that these signals tend to mark cycle lows rather than short-term trades.  The XRP ETFs also mark a positive for the XRP price as these funds maintain their inflows streak. These funds have recorded daily inflows since the Canary’s fund launched on November 13. As a result, they now boast net assets of over $1.1 billion, even as XRP continues to see significant demand from institutional investors.   XRP Remains Below Key Levels In an X post, CryptoXLarge stated that on the weekly chart, the XRP price remains below the descending trendline around the 8 to 21 EMA levels. He further remarked that this week, the price is attempting to break below the key support zone around $1.95, which aligns with the Fib 0.5 level and the 89-week EMA, which is a support that has held throughout the year.  Related Reading: Here’s Why The XRP Price Keeps Crashing CryptoXLarge stated that a weekly close below this level could increase the probability of a move toward the $1.60 support, which is the Fib 0.618. Meanwhile, a weekly close above $1.95 may boost buying interest, which could trigger a relief XRP price rally toward $2.30 and then $2.70. Crypto analyst Crypto King also echoed a similar sentiment, stating that a reclaim of $1.98 could eventually send the altcoin to as high as $3.66.  At the time of writing, the XRP price is trading at around $1.87, up in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap. Featured image from Adobe Stock, chart from Tradingview.com

Can a digital asset like XRP realistically sit at a few dollars if it is expected to serve as an important liquidity layer for the global financial system? That question is at the center of a growing debate around XRP’s market value and is the basis of comments shared on X by Jesse of Apex Crypto. His argument challenges the idea that XRP can function as a worldwide liquidity instrument through Ripple’s framework while maintaining a relatively low valuation around $3, which he says doesn’t make sense. The Liquidity Argument Behind XRP’s Valuation Debate XRP’s price history shows a clear ceiling that it has struggled to overcome. Since launch, the token has never sustained a move above the $4 level, with its highest recorded peak sitting around $3.65 in mid-July. Recent weeks have been even more challenging, as XRP has been trading under $2 with the entire crypto market going through a weak phase. Related Reading: $130 Million XRP Fumble: Analyst Reveals What Went Wrong Despite this, some bullish analysts continue to speculate about scenarios where the price revisits the $3 region. That outlook, however, was directly challenged by Jesse of Apex Crypto, who asserted that even a $3 valuation fundamentally misses the point of what XRP is designed to become. Jesse’s position is built around XRP’s intended role in global finance. According to him, if XRP grows into a primary liquidity source for cross-border settlements like it was intended to be, then a valuation around $3 would not align with that responsibility.  In his video commentary, he questioned what XRP would ultimately be backed by or pegged to, pointing to a structure tied to vast pools of global financial assets. These include fiat currencies, potential central bank digital currencies, and even commodities such as gold or silver. He noted that such a framework would imply that the total value represented by XRP tokens would correspond to the combined value of these underlying assets.  In simple terms, if roughly 100 billion XRP were expected to support or represent liquidity linked to trillions of dollars in global assets, then a single-digit price per token would appear mathematically inconsistent. From this perspective, XRP’s valuation would need to reflect the scale of the assets it helps move. Institutional Adoption Versus Price Reality The valuation debate is much more complex when placed alongside Ripple’s growing institutional footprint. Ripple has continued to expand partnerships with banks, payment providers, and financial institutions across multiple regions, which strengthens the case that its technology is gaining traction within traditional finance.  Related Reading: Dogecoin Price Could Rally If It Reclaims This Fibonacci Level At the corporate level, Ripple’s valuation and funding activity point to strong confidence from large investors, a factor Jesse of Apex Crypto believes should provide a valuation floor for XRP. However, XRP’s market price has not mirrored this institutioacnal momentum. Even with XRP-related investment products gaining attention and steady inflows, the price action is still limited, and the cryptocurrency might continue trading at low valuations in the near term. Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com

A crypto analyst has identified a key support level that could determine whether the XRP price stabilizes or experiences a sharp sell-off, sending it crashing toward the $0.90 mark. With volatility building and market sentiment turning cautious, XRP’s next move may be critical for both short-term traders and long-term holders.  XRP Price Faces Decline To $0.9 If Support Fails A crypto market expert who refers to himself as ‘Guy on the Earth’ on X has released an updated outlook on XRP, warning traders about a critical price level that could determine the cryptocurrency’s near-term direction. He noted that XRP has closed below the $1.95 monthly support zone for the first time in 13 months, signaling growing downside risk. According to his assessment, this breakdown could have serious technical implications if XRP fails to recover quickly.   Related Reading: Here’s Why The XRP Price Will Shine In The New Year The analyst’s chart shows that this marks the second time XRP has fallen below the $1.95 support on the weekly timeframe. Guy on the Earth stated that the last time it happened was during April’s US tariff-related market stress, which caused XRP and the broader crypto market to crash.  If history is any guide, the cryptocurrency could decline again if it fails to hold the $1.95 support level. The analyst has set the breakdown target at $0.90, which represents a more than 50% crash from current levels around $1.85. For the XRP price to stabilize, bulls must reclaim the $1.95 level and hold above it as soon as possible.  Guy on the Earth noted that XRP recently attempted to move back above $1.95 but was rejected, forming another lower high and reinforcing its broader bearish structure. He added that if the monthly chart fails to reclaim this support within the next several days, XRP’s downside momentum could accelerate.  For traders uncomfortable with the current setup, the analyst suggested reducing exposure and waiting for a confirmed daily close above $1.95 before re-entering the market. He explained that this strategy could help limit losses while keeping traders positioned for a potential price recovery.  From a longer-term perspective, Guy on the Earth has identified several potential accumulation zones if XRP’s price continues to fall. The key levels to watch on the chart are $1.61, $1.42, and the $0.90 target, with $0.75 representing the initial breakdown area from the previous rally. The analyst further noted that increased selling pressure from Bitcoin could open the door to deeper downside moves for XRP. Analyst Confirms Bullish Recovery Still Possible Toward the end of his analysis, Guy on the Earth noted that the recent price action does not indicate a full-scale downturn for XRP. He explained that the cryptocurrency is less than $0.04 from the rectangle resistance and that Bullish Divergence has yet to play out across multiple timeframes.  Related Reading: Peter Brandt Highlights Bearish XRP Price Chart, ‘You Need To Deal With It’ According to the analyst, a recovery and subsequent rally are still in the books for XRP, highlighting that sellers are becoming exhausted. Nevertheless, he warned that caution is necessary given XRP’s two consecutive weekly closes below key support.  Featured image from Adobe Stock, chart from Tradingview.com

A crypto analyst has revealed how a well-timed XRP investment from the 2017 bull cycle turned into a missed $130 million opportunity, highlighting how execution failures can derail even the most promising strategies. The admission, shared publicly on X, has reignited debate over discipline, timing, and emotional control in long-term crypto investing. XRP’s Perfect Entry, Failed Exit The investment began with a disciplined entry. In early 2017, two participants collectively invested $1,200 into XRP at approximately $0.007, accumulating 171,428 tokens. From a market timing perspective, the entry was near optimal. XRP later surged during the cycle, briefly trading close to its peak and lifting the position’s value to roughly $770,000. Related Reading: Analyst Reveals Bitcoin Make Or Break Level Amid Campaign For $90,000 At this stage, the trade had already achieved what most investors aim for: asymmetric upside realized within a single market cycle. However, the position was never exited. Despite clear signs of market euphoria and a dramatic expansion in price, the gains remained unrealized. The analyst later acknowledged that hesitation and emotional attachment prevented decisive action, effectively transforming a winning trade into a missed opportunity. This hesitation exposed a structural weakness in the strategy: there was no enforced exit discipline. While the entry was carefully planned, the decision to sell depended on the moments when emotional pressures are strongest and risk perception is most skewed. The scenario highlights a recurring issue in crypto markets, where many investors focus heavily on asset selection and timing entries, yet underestimate how psychologically demanding exits can be during periods of rapid price growth. The Missed Rotation And Compounding Effect Of Inaction The second failure compounded the first. The analyst explained that selling XRP near its peak would have freed capital to redeploy into Bitcoin while BTC traded around $1,000. That move could have converted the XRP proceeds into roughly 771 Bitcoin, effectively positioning the portfolio to benefit from the next major phase of the market cycle. Related Reading: Analyst Shares ‘Cold, Hard Truth’ For Bitcoin Investors As Price Struggles Holding those Bitcoin through later highs—approaching 170,000 CAD—would have resulted in total proceeds exceeding $130 million. The strategy was simple and systematic: take profits from an outperforming asset and rotate into another with asymmetric upside potential. It required no leverage, no complex instruments, and no precise market timing beyond a broad understanding of overall market cycles. However, hesitation, second-guessing, and attachment to the original position prevented decisive action. By delaying the rotation, the investor forfeited the compounding advantage, leaving the portfolio largely static while the broader market continued to advance. The analyst’s reflection highlights how the crypto market consistently rewards preparation and disciplined execution but punishes hesitation. This experience serves as a stark reminder that the ability to act decisively at critical moments is often the true determinant of long-term success in crypto investing. Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com

After years of compression, XRP is quietly approaching a moment where the market will see a true structural break. This breakout is about a high-timeframe setup where market structure is on the verge of shifting. It is also the potential resolution of a multi-year structure that has compressed prices, absorbed supply, and conditioned participants to underestimate what comes next. Why Volatility Has Collapsed Ahead Of Expansion At the least expected time, XRP will print a legendary candle that will set a structural foundation and never move down. A crypto investor known as 24HRSCRYPTO noted on X that this move that is coming won’t be powered by retail hype, but by real economic activity on the XRP Ledger. When the altcoin begins to function as a settlement asset, volatility will become a liability, rather than a feature.  Related Reading: Banks Could Favor A Higher XRP Price, Finance Expert Says Additionally, the payment rails, liquidity provisioning, and institutional settlement system will require price stability. A bridge asset referred to as a vehicle currency cannot swing 30-40% and still clear trillions in value. As volume and utility increase, XRP begins to transition from a speculative instrument into market infrastructure.  Liquidity depth would be key to absorb shocks, while the price becomes anchored by demand. This is why the first candle isn’t a top, but the market repricing XRP’s role from a tradeable asset into a financial primitive. With new initiatives, XRP’s adoption is set to increase. Analyst X Finance Bull has revealed that RLUSD is the first US trust-regulated stablecoin launched by Ripple, issued natively on the XRP Ledger and extending across Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) chains for broader institutional access. Any banks that would integrate with RLUSD will be automatically onboarded into the XRP rails. This isn’t just about stable payments, but about demand generation for the altcoin as the default bridge asset. From BlackRock funds flow to global repo markets, that’s where the real volume begins to flow. This flips the game, allowing RLUSD to provide the liquidity, while XRP captures the movement. Why XRPL Meets Institutional Due Diligence Standards For the first time, XRP Ledger has now processed over 4 billion transactions since its launch in 2012. Co-founder of Tedlabsio, a crypto trader and investor, Niels, has pointed out that the real-world usage across the network has sustained more than 13 years of uninterrupted operation. Related Reading: Here’s How Many Transactions XRP Must Process To Reach A $2,000 Price Tag The XRPL consistently handles around 1.5 million transactions per day, with regular peaks exceeding 5 million, and settles in 3 to 5 seconds. All of this happens at fractions of a cent per transaction. Over time, more than 13 million XRP have been burned in transaction fees, a metric that reflects continuous demand in network activity. This is why institutions pay attention to XRPL. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com

South Korean scientist YoungHoon Kim has sketched an extreme long-term view for XRP, saying the token could reach $1,000 within the next 10 years. Related Reading: JPMorgan Eyes Crypto Services As Institutional Demand Grows – A Boost For BTC Price? According to his posts on X, the forecast rests on a series of big macro shifts — a major flow of capital into crypto, a weaker US dollar, and prolonged high inflation. Kim added that this is not financial advice and framed the number as contingent on those assumptions. High Price Scenario And The Assumptions According to Kim, moving from around $1.87 today to $1,000 by 2035 requires more than sentiment. The math is stark. XRP’s circulating supply is about 60.57 billion tokens. At $1,000 a coin, that implies an overall market value near $60.57 trillion. Some critics pointed out that such a figure would place XRP above assets like gold in total market value. Update: In my view, #XRP could potentially approach $1,000 over the next 10 years. (NFA / DYOR) pic.twitter.com/fZaxmZaF1Q — YoungHoon Kim, IQ 276 (@yhbryankimiq) December 22, 2025 Others in the community pushed back, saying that headline targets miss other important measures such as adoption and liquidity. Support And Skepticism In The Community Some supporters are vocal. Matthew Brienen, COO of CryptoCharged, is among those who have suggested ranges from $100 to $1,000 over a decade are “highly possible,” saying he holds a large amount of XRP. Investor Armando Pantoja also told followers he is willing to wait up to 10 years for a very large payoff, arguing that regulatory strain from the SEC previously capped XRP’s price. On the other side, X users and creators like Utumax and YouTuber Zach Humphries asked for clearer methods behind the forecast, noting the implied $60 trillion valuation raises obvious questions. Short-Term Performance And Market Moves At the time these comments appeared, XRP traded near $1.84 and was down almost 30% over the previous three months. Market watchers say tokens can move quickly when sentiment flips. Coach JV, a finance coach and market analyst, said he expects “fast and aggressive” moves when bullish momentum returns, though he stopped short of offering price targets. That kind of volatility has been seen before in crypto markets, where large moves can come in either direction. XRP will move fast and aggressively when the time comes! pic.twitter.com/DHh4e1md7O — Coach, JV (@Coachjv_) December 22, 2025 How Realistic Is $1,000? Reaching $1,000 would mean XRP would capture value at a scale not supported by current on-chain use or settlement volume. Long-term value depends on real-world use, steady liquidity, and broad market acceptance. Regulatory clarity could help, but it alone would not automatically produce multitrillion-dollar market caps. Related Reading: Bitcoin’s $126K Sprint May Be Over — Fidelity Predicts 2026 Slide Some commentators dismiss round-number targets as attention-grabbing rather than rigorous forecasting. The conversation around Kim’s forecast highlights a split: a group ready to bet on huge upside, and many who want clearer proofs and step-by-step logic. Investors should weigh the big assumptions behind any sky-high target, and remember that bold forecasts depend on events well outside a single token’s current reach. Featured image from Yellow, chart from TradingView

XRP price failed to surpass $1.950 and started another decline. The price is now correcting gains and might struggle to stay above $1.850. XRP price started a downside correction and tested the $1.850 zone. The price is now trading below $1.880 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is a new bearish trend line forming with resistance at $1.870 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair (data source from Kraken). The pair could start another increase if it clears $1.90. XRP Price Starts Fresh Decline XRP price started a downside correction below the $1.9350 zone, like Bitcoin and Ethereum. The price dipped below the $1.90 and $1.880 levels to enter a negative zone. The price even dipped below the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $1.770 swing low to the $1.9578 high. Besides, there is a new bearish trend line forming with resistance at $1.870 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair. The price is now trading below $1.880 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. If there is a fresh upward move, the price might face resistance near the $1.870 level and the trend line. The first major resistance is near the $1.880 level, above which the price could rise and test $1.90. A clear move above the $1.90 resistance might send the price toward the $1.950 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the $2.00 resistance. The next major hurdle for the bulls might be near $2.050. More Losses? If XRP fails to clear the $1.90 resistance zone, it could start a fresh decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $1.8420 level and the 61.8% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $1.770 swing low to the $1.9578 high. The next major support is near the $1.80 level. If there is a downside break and a close below the $1.80 level, the price might continue to decline toward $1.770. The next major support sits near the $1.750 zone, below which the price could continue lower toward $1.720. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for XRP/USD is now gaining pace in the bearish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for XRP/USD is now below the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $1.8420 and $1.80. Major Resistance Levels – $1.880 and $1.920.

A growing part of the XRP community is paying closer attention to infrastructure changes taking shape on the XRP Ledger, especially as they relate to long-term utility and institutional adoption.  That context explains why crypto market commentator Brad Kimes, widely known on X as Digital Perspectives, reiterated a long-standing message that continues to resonate with many XRP holders: “Never sell your XRP.” His comment was in anticipation of the upcoming XRPL Lending Protocol. Why You Shouldn’t Sell Your XRP The comment from Digital Perspectives was a response to a post from Ed Hennis, a software engineer at Ripple, who recently outlined the upcoming proposal for the XRPL Lending Protocol. The proposal introduces fixed-term, fixed-rate, underwritten credit directly at the protocol level of the XRP Ledger. This approach is interesting because it moves lending away from smart-contract layers into a standardized, protocol-native system governed by validator consensus.  Related Reading: Here’s Why The XRP Price Keeps Crashing According to the explanation by Ed Hennis, the proposed loans on the XRPL Lending Protocol are going to be done with structured, clear terms, predictable interest, and explicit authorization, features that real-world institutions expect before committing capital. Therefore, Digital Perspectives’ “never sell” message is a reflection of a longer-term view where holders never sell their XRP and instead use them as collateral for loans. Instead of relying on generalized liquidity pools like most lending protocols, the design of the XRPL Lending Protocol places each loan inside a segregated Single Asset Vault. This structure isolates risk to a specific credit facility and avoids the cross-contamination that has plagued many DeFi lending platforms during periods of market stress. Therefore, the XRPL Lending Protocol reduces execution risk and creates a framework that resembles traditional credit markets more closely than existing crypto lending models. Real-World Applications Of The XRPL Lending Protocol Most decentralized lending systems today depend on heavy overcollateralization to offset volatility and the risk of anonymity. That approach might work for traders, but it is inefficient for real businesses that operate on predictable cash flows and underwritten credit lines. Enterprises are accustomed to borrowing without locking up more capital than the value of the loan itself, and that mismatch has kept many institutions on the sidelines. Related Reading: Ripple Reveals How It’s Hijacking A $16 Trillion Industry Using The XRP Ledger The XRPL’s approach introduces undercollateralized, institutionally underwritten lending alongside existing overcollateralized models. This expands the range of viable borrowers and aligns on-chain credit with how financing actually works in traditional markets. As noted by Hennis, real-world use cases of XRPL’s lending protocol include market makers borrowing XRP/RLUSD for inventory and arbitrage, Payment Service Providers (PSPs) borrowing RLUSD to pre-fund instant merchant payouts, and fintech lenders accessing short-duration working capital. The feature is slated to be available for voting at the end of January 2026. From there, the voting decision is up to validators on the XRP Ledger.  Once the lending protocol goes live and XRP begins to play a direct role in institutional credit markets, selling XRP at that stage may be short-sighted. Featured image from Pngtree, chart from Tradingview.com

XRP price started a decent increase above $1.920. The price is now correcting gains and might struggle to stay in a positive zone. XRP price started a downside correction and tested the $1.880 zone. The price is now trading below $1.90 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is a declining channel or a possible bullish flag pattern forming with resistance at $1.9250 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair (data source from Kraken). The pair could start another increase if it clears $1.950. XRP Price Fails At Resistance XRP price started a downside correction from the $1.950 zone, like Bitcoin and Ethereum. The price dipped below the $1.920 and $1.90 levels to enter a consolidation phase. The price even dipped below the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $1.770 swing low to the $1.9578 high. However, there is a declining channel or a possible bullish flag pattern forming with resistance at $1.9250 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair. The price is now trading below $1.90 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. If there is a fresh upward move, the price might face resistance near the $1.90 level. The first major resistance is near the $1.920 level, above which the price could rise and test $1.950. A clear move above the $1.950 resistance might send the price toward the $2.00 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the $2.050 resistance. The next major hurdle for the bulls might be near $2.120. More Losses? If XRP fails to clear the $1.920 resistance zone, it could start a fresh decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $1.8650 level and the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $1.770 swing low to the $1.9578 high. The next major support is near the $1.8420 level. If there is a downside break and a close below the $1.8420 level, the price might continue to decline toward $1.8150. The next major support sits near the $1.770 zone, below which the price could continue lower toward $1.720. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for XRP/USD is now gaining pace in the bearish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for XRP/USD is now below the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $1.8650 and $1.8420. Major Resistance Levels – $1.920 and $1.950.

XRP enters the final days of 2025 trading in a narrow and tense range, with market participants split between expectations of a rebound and concerns over a deeper breakdown. Related Reading: Bitcoin Feels The Weight Of Quantum Risk Concerns, Industry Leaders Warn After a volatile year that included sharp rallies, extended pullbacks, and growing institutional participation, the token is now hovering near levels that have repeatedly defined sentiment. Price action around the $1.8–$2.0 zone has become the focal point, as traders assess the long-term prospects. XRP's price trends to the downside on the daily chart. Source: XRPUSD on Tradingview XRP’s Technical Structure Tests Trader Conviction From a technical perspective, XRP remains under pressure despite holding above its key support level. The $1.87 level has been tested multiple times in recent weeks, with each bounce showing reduced momentum. Analysts note that repeated defenses of the same zone often weaken its reliability. A confirmed daily close below $1.6 is widely viewed as a critical downside trigger. Below that area, the chart structure offers limited historical support, opening the door to faster declines toward $1.2 or even the psychological $1.0 level. Similarly, Momentum indicators are mixed rather than decisively bearish. Short-term optimism has been fueled by a TD Sequential buy signal within the current $1.9 area, a pattern that has historically preceded relief rallies. However, XRP continues to trade below major moving averages, keeping the broader trend tilted to the downside unless resistance near $2.5 is reclaimed. Fundamentals and Institutional Signals Offer Contrast While price action remains fragile, developments around Ripple continue to shape longer-term narratives. Institutional exposure through U.S. spot XRP exchange-traded products has grown steadily, with assets under management exceeding $1 billion. Ripple’s regulatory positioning has also evolved. CEO Brad Garlinghouse has publicly dismissed claims of price manipulation, pointing to XRP’s deep liquidity and broad market participation. The company’s move to seek approval for a federally regulated national trust bank further signals a strategy focused on operating within established financial frameworks, rather than operating outside of them. Cross-Chain Speculation and Market Sentiment Speculation has added another layer of intrigue. Comments from Charles Hoskinson have reignited discussions about potential collaboration between XRP-related ecosystems and Cardano, particularly in the areas of decentralized finance and privacy-focused infrastructure. While no formal partnership has been confirmed, the dialogue reflects growing interest in interoperability beyond the XRP Ledger itself, highlighting broader discussions around XRP’s potential role within global financial infrastructure. Related Reading: Pundit Shares Why XRP Will Become Expensive And A $1,000 Price Tag Is Possible XRP remains caught between improving fundamentals and unresolved technical pressure. Traders are watching closely to see whether the current consolidation resolves into a breakout above $2 or a breakdown below long-defended support. Cover image from ChatGPT, XRPUSD chart from Tradingview

As the broader crypto markets remain fixated on volatility and short-term narratives, XRP is quietly transitioning into the accumulation phase. Institutional players are increasingly positioning in silence, favoring strategic accumulation over public signaling. This phase is rarely loud or obvious, and it’s defined by patience, regulatory awareness, and long-term infrastructure planning rather than short-term speculation. While the broader crypto market debates short-term price swings, a quieter story is unfolding behind the scenes. According to skipper_xrp’s post on X, institutions and banks are methodically positioning themselves, and the word on the street is that they’re betting big on XRP. Why Institutions Accumulate XRP In Silence Many analysts believe that the asset is entering a phase where price discovery could accelerate beyond the $100 mark, and this sudden price increase will come as a shock to investors. At the same time, the XRP Ledger is expanding beyond its traditional role in cross-border payment into decentralized media in the US. Related Reading: ‘Think Again’ Before Selling Your XRP; Expert Tells Investors Adding to the momentum, BXE is set to list on a major US exchange on January 21st, following its partnership with a leading node provider. The increased network activity means higher usage of the XRP Ledger with more XRP being burned. Despite BXE trading at $0.06 and a fixed supply of 500 million, many investors view it as undervalued. An investor and crypto trader known as Xaif Crypto has mentioned that from 2019 to 2021, MoneyGram actively integrated Ripple’s On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) service, by leveraging XRP as the bridge asset for real-time foreign exchange settlement. However, when the US SEC filed its lawsuit against Ripple in late 2020, regulatory uncertainty forced MoneyGram to suspend the partnership despite XRP proving its effectiveness as a liquidity bridge.  Currently, with Ripple largely moved past its regulatory overhang and gaining clearer legal standing, the industry is revisiting questions that were left unresolved: Will banks and payment institutions return to an XRP-based liquidity solution? Nonetheless, if institutions prioritize speed, capital efficiency, and regulatory clarity, history suggests that XRP already demonstrated all of the benefits and can work at scale before it was paused. The only variable missing at the time was regulatory certainty. How Institutional-Grade Yield Comes To XRP Holders Crypto trader Xaif Crypto has also revealed upcoming features for the XRP Ledger. According to Xaif, the XRPL lending protocol, a protocol-native framework that underwrites credit built directly into the Ledger, enabling fixed-term and fixed-rate loans, is on the horizon. Related Reading: XRP Advances As A Recognized Digital Asset In Regulated Markets — Here’s How Each loan operates within a Single Asset Vault (SAV), which offers risk isolation per facility and supporting assets such as XRP and RLUSD. This design unlocks compliant, on-ledger lending for institutions and introduces a clear, structured pathway to institutional-grade yield for XRP holders. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com