XRP News Today: Ripple Enhances XRP Ledger, XRP Gains 5% Amid Institutional Push

Ripple has recently made significant strides in enhancing the XRP Ledger, with changes that mirror the steps taken by Ethereum before its price surge earlier this year. The key question now is whether XRP will follow a similar upward trajectory.

XRP faced challenges in the second quarter, losing nearly 30% of its value compared to Ethereum after achieving a 100% increase in the first quarter. This shift was influenced by deliberate actions, such as Ethereum's Pectra upgrade in early May, which contributed to a 40% rise in Ethereum's price, ending its period of lower prices since November. Ripple now appears to be adopting a similar strategy, raising questions about whether the XRP Ledger’s new direction will receive comparable support.

Ripple's strategy involves three key components. First, Ripple acquired Hidden Road, a prime broker serving large investors, for $1.25 billion. This acquisition provides institutions with better tools for trading capital using XRP. Second, Ripple plans to release a new lending protocol in the third quarter of 2025, offering new functions within the XRP Ledger. Third, Ripple is incorporating greater programmability, allowing developers to create applications similar to those built on Ethereum.

These steps aim to prepare the XRP Ledger for institutional use, aligning with improving legal conditions. Ripple formally ended its cross-appeal in the ongoing SEC lawsuit, and speculation about a potential XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) is increasing. Legal clarity and technical improvements are happening concurrently, suggesting a coordinated effort to enhance XRP's appeal to institutional investors.

Market activity shows early effects of this shift. XRP traded above $2.15, a 5% increase, and Open Interest (OI), showing the total value of outstanding derivative contracts, rose 3%. This rise suggests speculative money is returning to XRP derivatives markets. However, lasting success depends on actual participation from large financial institutions. The XRP Ledger’s current plan reflects Ethereum’s successful approach after its upgrade. For XRP to see a comparable price adjustment, institutions need to commit real capital. Their involvement remains the decisive factor for XRP’s next phase.