XRP (XRP-USD) has been one of 2025’s biggest comeback stories. The token jumped more than 370% since last October after the SEC dropped its lawsuit against Ripple, helping push its market value to about $160 billion. That move restored XRP’s position as the third-largest cryptocurrency, behind Bitcoin and Ethereum.
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The win gave Ripple a new level of credibility among financial institutions exploring blockchain payments. But it also reignited an old question: does Ripple’s growth automatically lift XRP’s value?
Ripple Expands Network without Boosting XRP
Ripple’s flagship payment system, RippleNet, is seeing wider adoption among banks and payment firms. The platform enables near-instant cross-border transfers and cuts transaction costs. But here’s the problem for XRP investors; it doesn’t require XRP to operate.
Instead, Ripple’s On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) product is the only service that uses XRP directly as a bridge asset. While ODL has gained traction with smaller remittance providers, it’s still far from mass use by major banks.
“The company is scaling fast, but XRP’s role within that growth is limited,” one crypto analyst said. “Banks can use Ripple’s rails without ever touching the token.”
Ripple’s Stablecoin Push Changes the Equation
Ripple’s move into stablecoins could further sideline XRP. The company plans to issue RLUSD, a fully backed digital dollar that can settle cross-border payments with less volatility. If RLUSD becomes the default bridge currency in Ripple’s ecosystem, it could reduce demand for XRP even within ODL transactions.
Ripple has also applied for a U.S. banking charter and bought a payment technology firm to expand its reach into regulated finance. Many view these steps as signs that Ripple’s long-term strategy may be shifting toward mainstream financial infrastructure rather than just token-driven adoption.
However, short-term momentum could still favor XRP if it secures a new ETF or lands new payment partnerships. But the longer-term picture is less certain. Without a clear reason for banks to rely on XRP, its value could lag Ripple’s broader expansion.
The Next Decade Will Test XRP’s Staying Power
XRP remains one of crypto’s most recognizable names, and its community is among the most vocal. But over the next 10 years, the token’s challenge will be proving that it’s essential to Ripple’s future, not optional.
If that link weakens, analysts say XRP could end up as the side story to Ripple’s success rather than its foundation.
At the time of writing, XRP is sitting at $2.6735.
