Meanwhile, Ripple (XRP) Labs Is Making Strategic Moves Across the Asia-Pacific Region

Meanwhile, Ripple, the firm behind the XRP ledger, is making strategic moves across the Asia-Pacific region and expressing optimism over potential regulatory

In a busy news cycle for Ripple, the firm behind the XRP ledger, is making strategic moves across the Asia-Pacific region and expressed optimism over potential regulatory shifts in the U.S., following the success of Circle’s IPO.

XRP Surges Over 117% in Payment Volume

XRP has come into the spotlight with a staggering 117.41% increase in daily payment transactions, according to data from XRPSCAN. On June 9, XRP payments soared from around 500,000 to over 1.1 million, marking a monthly high.

This surge occurs despite relatively flat XRP price action, with the token currently trading at $2.29 at the time of writing.

The total XRP payment volume also climbed past 430 million, indicating increased transactional demand across Ripple’s ecosystem. While the specific trigger for this spike remains unclear, analysts suggest growing institutional activity and internal exchange settlements may be contributing factors.

This spike in usage is renewing optimism in the XRP market, despite price action remaining consolidated. According to CoinMarketCap, XRP is down just under 1% over the last 24 hours. Still, market participants interpret the rise in transactional volume as a strong bullish signal for the medium term.

Ripple Deepens Asia-Pacific Investments

As on-chain usage for XRP continues to increase, Ripple is also doubling down on its blockchain development in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. Via its University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI), Ripple has committed another $5 million across several countries in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Australia, and Taiwan.

Ripple teams up with Web3 Salon to accelerate the growth of emerging digital asset startups. Source: Cryptobless via X

Ripple’s ramped-up UBRI effort includes a $1.1 million investment in Korea University and renewed collaboration with Japan’s Kyoto University. Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) will receive a $3 million grant to increase its collaboration with the National University of Singapore (NUS).

“This support will make us able to involve more scholars and students in the blockchain community by enabling them to develop on the XRPL and contribute to its growth,” said NTU’s Professor Yang Liu.

The fund has already invested over $11 million in APAC to cultivate talent and enable innovation in the Ripple ledger ecosystem. The move falls within Ripple’s broader strategy of pushing for adoption in markets that have more open crypto regulations—contrasting with the more turbulent environment in the U.S. due to the series of XRP SEC lawsuits.

Brad Garlinghouse Eyes Regulatory Clarity Amid Circle IPO Momentum

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse, speaking at the Apex 2025 conference in Singapore, was adamant in his optimism regarding the shifting U.S. regulatory environment. He pointed to the recent success of Circle’s IPO as a sign that sentiment around digital assets is improving.

Ripple CEO highlights bullish potential, noting that institutional inflows could make the upside difficult to predict. Source: KINGVALEX via X

“Circle IPO’s clearly performed well. That’s a reflection of investor demand for crypto, institutions and retail,” Garlinghouse said. “Regulatory headwinds have now turned into tailwinds in the U.S., and that’s beneficial for the worldwide landscape.”

Garlinghouse cited market optimism as being tied to the pending passage of the GENIUS Act—a bipartisan legislation that would provide a regulatory framework for stablecoins in the United States. The legislation is set to pass in Congress before the August recess. The Ripple CEO also praised international efforts, citing new regulations in Hong Kong and Korea, again noting a trend towards global regulatory clarity.

XRP Price Outlook and Market Sentiment

Despite the bullish on-chain activity and global expansion, the XRP price trend remains uncertain in the short term. XRP is currently trading in a narrow band between $2.25 and $2.32, facing pressure from macroeconomic headwinds such as the ongoing U.S.-China trade negotiations.

XRP was trading at around $2.291 at press time. Source: XRP Liquid Index (XRPLX) via Brave New Coin

Technical indicators present a mixed picture. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) sits at the 50 midline, indicating a lack of clear momentum. Meanwhile, a sell signal from the SuperTrend indicator adds to caution, with downside risks targeting the $2.08 level should support at $2.25 fail.

However, rising interest in the XRP derivatives market suggests underlying bullish sentiment. Open Interest has surged to $4.34 billion in the past 24 hours, with trading volume hitting $5.2 billion—highlighting increased trader activity and potential accumulation at current levels.

If XRP maintains its current support, analysts see potential for a 30% breakout, with short-term targets aiming for the $3.00 range.