XRP: The Rise of the International Payment Cryptocurrency

In recent months, Ripple's cryptocurrency, XRP, has experienced a dramatic surge, skyrocketing by over 350% since November 2024. This remarkable ascent has propelled XRP to become the third-largest digital asset, surpassing major corporations like Mastercard and Morgan Stanley in terms of market value, which now stands at $141 billion.

XRP's surge can be attributed to its growing reputation as the leading cryptocurrency for international payments. While Bitcoin is often referred to as digital gold and Ethereum powers decentralised finance (DeFi), XRP is gaining recognition as a utility token designed for seamless cross-border transactions.

Prominent crypto investor Ed Franklin has highlighted XRP's potential to revolutionise money transfers. "Bitcoin is too slow and expensive, and Ethereum is not designed to handle the volume of transactions needed for global payments," he explains. "This leaves XRP, which is fast, cheap, and can handle the volume."

As a result, XRP is becoming the standard for global payments, according to Franklin. This growing interest has spurred a frenzy among retail investors, with communities like Reddit's r/XRP forum celebrating the token's rise and speculating on its potential to reach $10 or even $58 based on technical indicators.

However, critics caution that such enthusiasm mirrors the speculative bubbles seen in Bitcoin's past, which ultimately led to a crash in 2018. Sceptics also point to Ripple's centralised control of XRP, with the company holding over 50% of the token's supply and facing an ongoing lawsuit by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Despite these challenges, Ripple has partnered with over 300 financial institutions to expand XRP's reach. American Express and Santander are among the notable institutions offering services that integrate XRP.

Moreover, recent legal victories have bolstered confidence in Ripple's case. In November 2024, a judge ruled that XRP holders are not parties to the SEC's lawsuit against Ripple, a decision that could significantly impact the token's future.

To enhance XRP's functionality, Ripple has introduced new products like the Ripple Liquid USD (RLUSD), a stablecoin backed by real-world assets and pegged to the U.S. dollar. Additionally, its On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) service, which facilitates instant cross-border payments, has gained traction in over 40 markets worldwide.

Furthermore, institutions like BlackRock and Fidelity are rapidly increasing their exposure to XRP through exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track the performance of crypto assets. As institutional interest grows, advocates believe XRP has the potential to rival Bitcoin's market dominance.

With institutions continuing to expand their payment networks and regulatory bodies seeking clarity on crypto assets, XRP's future appears promising. Its innovative technology and adoption by financial institutions could make it a cornerstone of global payments.

While sceptics remain cautious due to past experiences with speculative bubbles, supporters are optimistic that XRP will achieve unprecedented heights, potentially joining Bitcoin as a trillion-dollar cryptocurrency.