XRP News Today: XRP Emerges as Core Settlement Layer, Wall Street Fears Disruption

A significant transformation is occurring within the global financial landscape, with XRP emerging as a pivotal element. According to a respected figure in the digital asset space, Wall Street's initial dismissive attitude toward XRP has evolved into fear. This shift is not driven by hype or media attention but by the realization that XRP is becoming the core settlement layer of a decentralized, programmable, and instant-value economy.

XRP was designed from the outset as a liquidity protocol, capable of moving trillions of dollars across borders instantly and without intermediaries. Its true purpose is to serve as the infrastructure for the next generation of global finance, where money flows as efficiently as data. Retail interest in XRP was incidental; the real mission was always institutional. Now, traditional financial institutions are taking notice, with some showing curiosity and others concern.

One of the most disruptive developments is Ripple’s application for a U.S. national banking charter. If approved, this would give Ripple direct access to the Federal Reserve’s master accounts, top-tier clearing systems, and full-scale banking capabilities. Ripple would transition from a tech company working with banks to becoming a bank itself. Additionally, Ripple’s stablecoin, RLUSD, backed by reserves reportedly held at the Fed, is a key piece of the infrastructure enabling always-on, cross-border settlement between fiat and digital assets while remaining regulatory-compliant.

Ripple is not the only entity pursuing this path. Circle, the issuer of USDC, is also applying for a bank charter. However, this is not a competitive battle but a coordinated evolution. Both firms are laying down the rails of a new financial system built on ISO 20022-compatible blockchains, like the XRP Ledger, that will replace SWIFT and legacy clearing systems. In this model, tokenized money flows instantly, without middlemen, correspondent banking fees, or delays. It is compliant, programmable, and built for scale, with XRP serving as the universal bridge asset that connects it all.

Wall Street’s fear stems from the fact that they no longer control the system. They initially dismissed Ripple as a startup and expected the SEC lawsuit to bury XRP. However, Ripple survived and thrived. The 2023 court ruling confirmed that XRP sales on secondary markets are not securities, providing Ripple with the regulatory clarity needed to expand. Now, Ripple is building the new infrastructure—issuing stablecoins, becoming a regulated bank, and deploying technology that bypasses every legacy choke point. XRP is quietly becoming the settlement engine of a tokenized economy, rendering old systems obsolete. This is not just a company winning; it is a new system rising, with XRP at its core, and that is what Wall Street is terrified of.