XRP News Today: Ripple's RLUSD Gains Retail Adoption, Challenges USDC in Stablecoin Market

Generated by AI AgentCoin World
Friday, Jul 25, 2025 7:53 am ET2min read
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Aime RobotAime Summary

- Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin has shifted from enterprise focus to growing retail adoption via platforms like Xaman and Transak.

- Despite initial institutional positioning, 91% of RLUSD users now hold tokens on XRP Ledger, contrasting with 88% issuance on EVM sidechain.

- Regulatory approvals in Dubai and U.S. bank charter pursuits strengthen RLUSD's position as a general-purpose stablecoin challenging USDC.

- XRP's renewed utility in RLUSD transactions and Ripple's ecosystem expansion highlight crypto-traditional finance convergence.

Ripple, the XRP-issuing firm, has seen its stablecoin RLUSD transition from an enterprise-focused product to one with growing retail adoption, reshaping its positioning in the competitive stablecoin market [1]. Launched in late 2024, RLUSD was initially promoted as a "gold standard" for institutional use, leveraging the

XRP
Ledger’s (XRPL) speed and cost efficiency [2]. However, rising integration with retail platforms like Xaman and Transak, coupled with adoption on self-custodial wallets, has broadened its user base. Xaman’s chief operating officer Robert Kiuru noted that while RLUSD’s launch emphasized enterprise utility, “real traction on the retail side” is now evident [3].

The shift contrasts with early statements from Ripple’s leadership, including CTO David Schwartz, who suggested RLUSD might remain exclusive to institutions [4]. This created uncertainty about the stablecoin’s accessibility, yet the lack of explicit retail restrictions in RLUSD’s initial availability on platforms like Uphold and Bitso allowed organic adoption. Transak’s marketing head Harshit Gangwar acknowledged this duality, stating RLUSD’s infrastructure supports both institutional and retail use cases [5].

Data highlights a divergence between issuance and user preferences: 88% of RLUSD’s $557.7 million market cap is issued on the EVM sidechain, yet 91% of its 34,160 users hold the token on XRPL [6]. Kiuru attributed this to the XRP Ledger’s enterprise-centric branding, emphasizing that “the positioning of XRPL and RLUSD is not moving away from enterprise” [7]. Meanwhile, Huma Finance co-founder Erbil Karaman observed that RLUSD now operates as a “general-purpose stablecoin,” directly competing with rivals like Circle’s

USDC
across all market segments [8].

Ripple’s strategic pivot aligns with broader trends in the crypto ecosystem. By expanding retail access, the firm aims to diversify revenue streams beyond institutional clients, capitalizing on RLUSD’s low-cost, real-time settlement features. This growth also strengthens Ripple’s ecosystem, as XRP—central to the company’s legal challenges with the SEC—gains renewed utility in supporting RLUSD transactions [9]. Analysts suggest the stablecoin’s expansion could drive demand for XRP, particularly as

Ripple
explores tokenizing real-world assets and enhancing cross-border payment solutions [10].

Regulatory developments further bolster RLUSD’s credibility. The stablecoin has secured approval from Dubai’s DFSA for use in the DIFC, a key global financial hub [11]. Ripple’s parallel efforts to obtain a U.S. bank

charter
and a Federal Reserve master account signal its intent to integrate traditional financial frameworks with crypto infrastructure [12]. These moves address lingering regulatory uncertainties while positioning RLUSD to challenge USDC, which dominates the stablecoin sector but faces scrutiny over reserves and governance.

Retail adoption reflects broader crypto market dynamics, with stablecoins becoming essential for daily transactions, DeFi participation, and cross-border trade. Ripple’s ability to balance enterprise and retail use cases will likely determine its success in a crowded market. As RLUSD gains momentum, its impact will hinge on maintaining regulatory compliance, expanding partnerships, and addressing user onboarding challenges. The stablecoin’s trajectory, alongside XRP’s evolving role, underscores the convergence of traditional finance and crypto innovation.

Sources:

[1] Cointelegraph, [url1]https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/68836bde32b65702e7fcff6e/[1]

[2] CoinCentral, [url2]https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/68836bde32b65702e7fcff6e/[1]

[3] DeFiance Media, [url3]https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/68836bde32b65702e7fcff6e/[1]

[4]

Reddit
, [url4]https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/68836bde32b65702e7fcff6e/[1]

[5] DeFiance Media, [url5]https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/68836bde32b65702e7fcff6e/[1]

[6] DeFiance Media, [url6]https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/68836bde32b65702e7fcff6e/[1]