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Understanding XRP: A guide to the payments focused crypto

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Understanding XRP: A  guide to the payments focused crypto

XRP has recently neared its all-time high, solidifying its position as the third-largest cryptocurrency by market cap. Designed for fast, low-cost cross-border payments, XRP is the native cryptocurrency of the XRP Ledger (XRPL), formerly the Ripple Consensus Ledger.

The Ripple and XRP mission

Ripple, a digital payment network and protocol launched in 2012 aims to address the inefficiencies of traditional financial systems, such as slow processing and high costs in cross-border payments. The network uses XRP, its native cryptocurrency, to enable fast, low-cost international money transfers and currency exchanges. XRP serves as a "bridge currency" in Ripple’s On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) platform, eliminating the need for pre-funded accounts in global banking and improving the efficiency of international transactions.

What is XRP designed for?

XRP aims to power fast and cost-effective transactions with minimal fees.

  • Primary use case: Cross-border payments, acting as a bridge currency.

  • Additional use cases: Micropayments, tokenisation, DeFi and NFTs.

By addressing inefficiencies in the fiat banking system, XRP has positioned itself as a tool for modernising financial transactions, and has worked with several major financial institutions in the past. Unlike Bitcoin, its entire 100 billion supply was pre-mined at launch in 2012, with Ripple retaining a large share for ecosystem growth.

Why is XRP gaining momentum?

  • Legal clarity: In July 2023, a U.S. court ruled that XRP is not inherently a security, boosting investor confidence.

  • Institutional adoption: Ripple’s partnerships with banks and financial institutions have increased XRP’s real-world usage.

  • Expanding use cases: Upgrades to the XRP Ledger support DeFi, NFTs, and tokenised assets, broadening its utility.

  • Global adoption: Markets like Japan and the UAE have embraced Ripple’s technology for remittances and payments.

The company also recently launched Ripple USD (RLUSD), a stablecoin designed to maintain a stable value of one US dollar, which may also have contributed to the recent increases. 

XRP is a cryptocurrency with a clear purpose: revolutionising cross-border payments. Backed by Ripple’s technology and ongoing adoption by financial institutions, XRP has the potential to remain a major player in blockchain-powered finance.

Explore XRP

Disclaimer

Investing in digital assets carries risks, crypto is volatile. In extreme cases, the invested amount may be lost completely. This Promotion does not constitute an investment advice or an invitation to conclude a transaction. In no way is performance or results guaranteed. You should keep yourself informed and understand the risks involved in buying and holding digital assets.

This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, nor is it an offer or invitation to purchase any digital assets.

Furthermore no representation or warranty, either expressed or implied, is made as to, and no reliance should be placed on the fairness, accuracy, completeness or correctness of this article or opinions contained herein.

Investing in crypto assets carries risks, and may not be suitable for all investors. Make sure to conduct your own research before making any investment. 

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