Ripple’s XRP and Thunes Partnership: A Game-Changer in Cross-Border Payments

The global cross-border payment market, valued at over $19 trillion annually, has long been dominated by SWIFT—a legacy system criticized for its sluggish settlement times and opaque fees. However, Ripple’s strategic partnership with Thunes, a Singapore-based payments infrastructure provider, is reshaping this landscape. By integrating Ripple’s XRP Ledger with Thunes’ Direct Global Network—which connects to 7 billion mobile wallets and bank accounts—the collaboration enables near-instant, cost-effective transactions in over 130 countries and 80 currencies [1]. For investors, this partnership represents not just a technological leap but a potential seismic shift in financial infrastructure, challenging SWIFT’s entrenched dominance and unlocking new value for XRP.

Disrupting SWIFT: The XRP Advantage

SWIFT’s dominance stems from its decades-old network effect, but its reliance on intermediaries and batch-processing mechanisms results in delays of 1–5 days and fees that can exceed 6% of transaction value [4]. Ripple’s XRP Ledger, by contrast, settles transactions in seconds at a fraction of the cost, leveraging XRP as a “bridge asset” to mitigate liquidity constraints. This is particularly impactful in underbanked regions, where Thunes’ mobile wallet network provides real-time access to local currencies [3].

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has boldly predicted that the XRP Ledger could capture 14% of SWIFT’s global liquidity—equivalent to $21 trillion—within five years [2]. This projection is underpinned by XRP’s growing institutional adoption, including partnerships with entities like the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), which has endorsed Ripple’s blockchain as a cornerstone of future financial infrastructure [2]. Meanwhile, SWIFT’s chief innovation officer, Tom Zschach, has questioned Ripple’s long-term viability, emphasizing the need for “neutral governance and institutional trust” in financial systems [1]. Yet, as banks and fintechs increasingly prioritize efficiency, the XRP-Thunes model’s appeal is hard to ignore.

Investment Potential: Catalysts and Projections

For investors, the XRP-Thunes partnership is a catalyst for both short- and long-term gains. Recent on-chain data reveals a 490% surge in XRP address activity and a near-doubling of its Realized Cap, signaling renewed retail and institutional interest [1]. However, the volatility of this momentum—driven by speculative trading—raises questions about sustainability.

More concrete optimism comes from regulatory and market developments. Bloomberg reports that 15 XRP ETF applications are under review by the SEC, with seven classified as spot ETFs [2]. If approved, these could inject billions into XRP’s liquidity, with analysts forecasting a price range of $10–$16 by December 2025 [2]. Technical indicators also suggest a critical juncture: XRP’s current price of $2.80 hovers near key resistance levels, and a breakout above $3.20 could trigger a bullish trend toward $4.00–$8.00 [1].

Longer-term projections are equally compelling. Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin, which burns XRP with every transaction, introduces deflationary pressure and reinforces XRP’s utility [5]. Combined with the XRP Ledger’s record 830,000 daily transactions and $12 million in decentralized exchange volume, these factors position XRP as a scalable solution for global payments [5]. Analysts at Coinpedia estimate XRP could reach $15 by 2030, driven by broader adoption of blockchain-based infrastructure [5].

Risks and the Road Ahead

Despite its promise, XRP faces hurdles. SWIFT’s entrenched position and the banking sector’s risk-averse culture mean widespread adoption will take time. Regulatory scrutiny, particularly in the U.S., remains a wildcard, though Ripple’s recent legal victories against the SEC have bolstered its credibility [1]. Additionally, macroeconomic pressures—such as interest rate fluctuations—could dampen speculative demand in the short term.

For investors, the key is balancing these risks with the transformative potential of XRP’s use cases. The partnership with Thunes, in particular, demonstrates a clear path to real-world adoption: by 2025, Ripple’s Payments product will cover 90-plus payout markets, representing over 90% of daily FX activity [3]. This scalability, coupled with XRP’s role in reducing friction in cross-border flows, makes it a compelling asset for those betting on the future of decentralized finance.

Conclusion

Ripple’s collaboration with Thunes is more than a technological innovation—it’s a strategic assault on the inefficiencies of traditional finance. For investors, the XRP Ledger’s ability to challenge SWIFT’s dominance offers a dual opportunity: capitalizing on near-term volatility while positioning for long-term gains as blockchain infrastructure becomes mainstream. While risks persist, the confluence of institutional adoption, regulatory progress, and real-world utility makes XRP a high-conviction play in the evolving cross-border payment ecosystem.

Source:
[1] Ripple and Thunes Expand Partnership to Enhance Global Payments [https://www.btcc.com/en-US/square/XRP%20News/901923]
[2] Ripple CEO predicts XRP Ledger will capture 14% of SWIFT’s global liquidity within five years through faster settlement and lower costs [https://coincentral.com/ripple-ceo-makes-bold-prediction-xrp-ledger-to-capture-14-of-swift-market/]
[3] Thunes and Ripple Join Forces to Revolutionize Payments Globally [https://investorshangout.com/thunes-and-ripple-join-forces-to-revolutionize-payments-globally-378892-/]
[4] Why SWIFT Still Dominates Global Payments While Ripple... [https://www.btcc.com/en-IN/square/coincentral/898694]
[5] XRPL hits record activity as Ripple targets $21T in payments. RLUSD stablecoin boosts demand, with XRP eyeing a major breakout [https://coinpedia.org/news/xrp-set-to-capture-21-trillion-from-swift-ripples-bold-prediction/]