XRP News Today: Ripple Integrates USDC on XRP Ledger Amid Competition with Stellar

Ripple’s recent integration of USDC on the XRP Ledger has sparked a contentious debate within the crypto community. The move comes after Ripple’s native stablecoin, RLUSD, failed to gain traction, with fewer than 50,000 trustlines and virtually no real-world use. This lack of momentum has led Ripple to turn to Circle’s USDC as a backup strategy, hoping to leverage its established presence in the stablecoin market.

However, experts argue that this integration may not provide the real benefits Ripple is seeking. By making USDC multichain, XRP could lose its unique edge, making it harder to build real utility or demand. Critics point out that while Ripple can copy features, it cannot replicate the years of infrastructure, adoption, and partnerships that Stellar has already built.

Stellar, on the other hand, has been quietly building real-world momentum. The network now includes smart contracts through Soroban, stablecoins like USDC and PYUSD, and global partnerships with major institutions such as Franklin Templeton and WisdomTree. Stellar’s network is already being used daily for real payments and transactions across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, with over 1.5 million trustlines and thousands of active wallets.

Stellar’s strong position is further bolstered by its involvement in humanitarian corridors and real-world payment systems, powered by UN-backed initiatives. This extensive infrastructure and adoption make Stellar a formidable contender in the stablecoin and cross-border payment sectors. In contrast, the integration of USDC on the XRP Ledger feels more like a headline grab than a breakthrough, with critics questioning its real-world impact.

The debate highlights the competitive landscape between Ripple and Stellar, with each platform vying for dominance. The outcome of this competition will likely have significant implications for the future of digital payments and the broader crypto ecosystem. While Ripple’s move to integrate USDC could potentially shift USDC liquidity towards its ecosystem, Stellar’s existing infrastructure and partnerships position it as a strong contender in the stablecoin market. The real action, as experts argue, is already happening on the Stellar network, raising questions about whether XRP is too late to catch up.