XRP News Today: Ripple CTO Highlights XRP as Core Asset in Payment Infrastructure

Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, David Schwartz, has emphasized the central role of XRP within the company’s payment infrastructure. In a recent post on X, Schwartz noted that XRP’s use as a bridge asset in Ripple Payments likely surpasses that of all other assets [1]. This aligns with Ripple’s long-standing position that XRP is the core asset for cross-border transactions within its network. The token's deep integration into the XRP Ledger (XRPL) enables automatic pathfinding between currencies and seamless bridging, features that few other digital assets can match [1].

Ripple’s on-demand liquidity (ODL) product relies heavily on XRP to facilitate near-instant settlements without the need for pre-funded accounts. With a throughput of up to 1,500 transactions per second and settlement times of seconds, XRP significantly reduces transaction friction and cost, making it the preferred asset in Ripple’s liquidity corridors [1]. These capabilities are critical for real-time value transfers across borders and support XRP’s dominance in the company’s liquidity infrastructure.

Schwartz also differentiated between XRP and stablecoins, acknowledging their distinct roles in the digital financial ecosystem. While XRP excels in bridging value and enabling real-time transactions, stablecoins such as USDC and USDT are more suited for use cases requiring price stability—such as collateral, on/off ramps, and institutional operations [1]. Industry reports indicate that stablecoin payment volumes exceeded $1.3 trillion in 2024, reflecting their widespread adoption in low-risk, high-clarity environments [1].

Despite the advantages of stablecoins, Schwartz argues that top-tier digital assets like XRP offer more appeal for long-term holders seeking utility and upside potential. This view contrasts with the more conservative approach of relying solely on stablecoins for capital preservation [1]. The trade-off, he suggests, lies in balancing short-term predictability with long-term growth and functionality.

The XRP Ledger’s utility is a key driver of XRP’s value. As the native asset of the XRPL, XRP is essential to the ledger’s operation, with its use embedded in every transaction path and exchange pair [1]. Unlike other blockchain networks, where native tokens can often be bypassed, XRP remains integral to the XRPL’s functionality. As the ledger gains real-world adoption, XRP’s utility—and thus its value—is expected to grow.

Although most institutional transactions on Ripple remain off-chain due to compliance considerations, ongoing efforts to integrate permissioned liquidity and regulatory frameworks could increase on-chain activity in the future [1]. These developments may further enhance XRP’s role in the digital financial system.

Schwartz’s comments reinforce XRP’s foundational position in Ripple’s payment ecosystem. While stablecoins dominate specific functions due to their stability, XRP’s deep integration into Ripple’s infrastructure gives it a unique and irreplaceable role. Analysts have also highlighted the potential for XRP to significantly reduce costs in remittance services and to experience a price surge in the future [2].

Source:

[1] Ripple CTO Drops Bombshell on XRP’s Usage in Ripple Payments

https://timestabloid.com/ripple-cto-drops-bombshell-on-xrps-usage-in-ripple-payments/

[2] XRP News Today: Ripple XRP Price Could Surge to $20–

https://www.ainvest.com/news/xrp-news-today-ripple-xrp-price-surge-20-33-dominates-remittance-markets-africa-asia-2507/