XRP News Today: Harvard Cites Visa Patent Boosting XRP XLM by 20%

A recent Harvard presentation has highlighted a significant development in the intersection of traditional finance and blockchain technology. The presentation cited Visa’s patent for digital fiat currency as an example of a blockchain-based settlement system, drawing a bullish comparison with two leading crypto assets, Ripple’s XRP and Stellar’s XLM. This finding, shared by crypto researcher SMQKE, has generated considerable excitement within the digital asset community.

The patent in question, titled “Digital Fiat Currency,” was filed by Visa International Service Association and published on May 14, 2020. The application outlines a system where central banks could digitize physical cash into a blockchain-compatible format, effectively removing banknotes from circulation and issuing digital equivalents onto a distributed ledger. The system includes a central authority, a blockchain ledger, validating entities, and transaction-processing middleware, aiming to preserve fiat currency’s legal status while enhancing its usability with blockchain’s speed, transparency, and security.

What sets this development apart is Harvard’s inclusion of XRP and XLM as potential settlement mechanisms within such a system. Both networks are renowned for their fast, low-cost international transfers and their ability to support fiat-backed tokens, aligning closely with the digital fiat model proposed by Visa. Ripple’s XRP Ledger offers near-instant settlement, a decentralized exchange, and a history of enterprise-grade integrations. Stellar’s XLM, on the other hand, is designed for inclusion and remittance use cases, providing efficient cross-border transfer solutions for both institutions and individuals. These attributes position both networks as practical infrastructure layers for Visa’s patented system.

While the patent does not explicitly name XRP or XLM, the Harvard reference strongly suggests that these networks are viewed as viable examples of blockchain systems that could support Visa’s model. This academic recognition signals institutional confidence in the legitimacy of crypto assets within high-level financial discourse. For years, XRP and XLM were primarily seen as speculative assets, but they are now gaining attention as foundational tools for the future of global finance. The citation indicates that academia sees real-world applications for these assets within regulated, mainstream frameworks.

This development has sparked renewed optimism among supporters of XRP and XLM, particularly amid Ripple’s ongoing legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. While that case has drawn regulatory scrutiny, developments like this one show that the technology itself continues to gain traction in academic and enterprise circles. For Visa, the patented system could be a stepping stone toward digital currency integration that bridges legacy finance and blockchain. If platforms like XRP or XLM are eventually implemented within Visa’s infrastructure, it would mark a historic fusion of traditional and decentralized finance.