XRP news today: Crypto Commentator Debunks $100,000 XRP Dark Pool Claim

In a recent video, crypto commentator Zach Rector addressed and debunked a viral claim that XRP tokens are being traded at $100,000 each in clandestine "dark pools." This claim, popularized by influencer Jake Clover, has caused concern among newcomers in the crypto community. Rector's rebuttal aims to clarify the misinformation and refocus the discussion on verifiable market mechanics rather than speculative narratives.

Rector began by labeling the claim as "a new round of misinformation and FUD," emphasizing that institutions are not acquiring XRP at such exorbitant prices on a private ledger. He explained that what is being referred to as "dark pools" are actually over-the-counter (OTC) desks, which are private bilateral venues used by large holders for decades in various markets, including equities, foreign exchange, and digital assets. This practice is not new or specific to XRP.

Rector noted that Ripple Labs has been using OTC desks to offload part of its treasury since 2019 without affecting the open-market price. Despite this distribution, XRP has seen significant growth since November, indicating that the market dynamics are not being manipulated by these OTC deals.

Much of Clover’s allegation is based on the idea that a separate, private version of the XRP Ledger (XRPL) exists with a price much higher than the public market. Rector clarified that this is a fundamental misunderstanding of how Ripple’s enterprise tooling works. Central banks or governments may use private ledgers for confidentiality, but these are permissioned sidechains or wrapped derivatives, not the actual XRP Ledger. Rector cited Ripple's chief technology officer, David Schwartz, who has previously addressed this issue, stating that there is only one price for XRP.

Rector also provided examples from other enterprise-focused chains, such as XDC’s hybrid architecture and Constellation’s Department of Defense "Metagraph" deployment, to illustrate that privacy partitions are standard practice and do not indicate hidden liquidity at unrealistic valuations.

Addressing the economic rationale behind OTC desks, Rector argued that institutions would not pay an astronomical premium for XRP in private transactions when it is available on the public market at a much lower price. OTC desks allow large holders to accumulate XRP without moving the market, not to overpay. Historical data from the SEC vs. Ripple lawsuit revealed that Ripple often grants institutional partners a discount, not a markup. For instance, R3 once negotiated an option to buy five billion XRP "for a sub-penny" over three years, ultimately settling for a single billion when the partnership soured. None of these figures approach the six-figure fantasy.

Rector's analysis aims to provide clarity and reassurance to the crypto community, emphasizing the importance of understanding market mechanics and avoiding speculative narratives. By debunking the $100,000 XRP "dark pool" theory, Rector helps to refocus the discussion on verifiable information and market dynamics, promoting a more informed and rational approach to crypto investing.