XRP Surges 16.25% as Ripple's Institutional Momentum Builds

XRP's latest price was $3.53, up 16.247% in the last 24 hours. Ripple’s growing presence in global finance appears to be fueling the momentum. The company has secured a wide network of institutional partners using the XRP Ledger for tokenizing assets and streamlining cross-border payments. Its RLUSD stablecoin has already surpassed $500 million in market value less than a year after launch.

Meanwhile, the end of Ripple’s lengthy legal battle with U.S. regulators has cleared a major hurdle. With both Ripple and the SEC dropping appeals, regulatory uncertainty around XRP has eased significantly, laying the groundwork for further institutional integration. Speculation around a potential spot XRP ETF is also gaining traction, adding another bullish catalyst. Now the third-largest crypto by market cap, XRP is positioning itself as a key player in the next phase of digital finance — one centered on compliance, speed, and utility.

Ripple’s co-founder and Executive Chairman, Chris Larsen, has transferred $26 million worth of XRP to Coinbase. This move comes as Ripple continues to expand its institutional partnerships and integrate XRP into various financial services. A rumor suggesting Ripple might pay its court-imposed penalty using XRP has been firmly shut down by former SEC attorney Marc Fagel. The claim, which resurfaced this week within the XRP community, was sparked by speculation that the U.S. government’s recent Bitcoin sales were linked to preparations for accepting XRP as a settlement currency. Fagel, however, directly dismissed this theory as fiction, stating that Ripple has already paid the penalty in cash as ordered by the court.

The discussion was reignited when crypto personality Zach Rector posed a provocative question on X: “Why didn’t the government want to hold onto its Bitcoin?” In response, XRP commentator “XRP Savant” suggested it was part of a broader setup for Ripple to settle its SEC penalty in XRP. “Setting the stage for Ripple to pay $150M SEC fine with XRP. Then it goes into reserve,” Savant claimed, adding, “As I predicted 4 months ago. It’s nice to see the experts finally catch up with the Savant.”

Marc Fagel, a former SEC San Francisco Regional Director, quickly entered the conversation to correct the record. Quoting the original claim, he stated unequivocally: “They already paid in cash. Sorry.” When pressed with Squire’s speculative post, Fagel followed up with a firmer clarification: “I’m stating facts. There’s a court order that they pay cash into escrow. But you can imagine anything you’d like.”

Fagel’s comments refer to court documents from the Ripple case, which show that the company was ordered to deposit $125 million, not $150 million, into escrow in U.S. dollars as part of its proposed final judgment with the SEC. While XRP Savant and others continue to push the narrative of XRP being used for institutional settlements or even government reserves, there is no legal basis or regulatory precedent supporting such claims. Courts require penalties to be paid in fiat currency, especially when dealing with assets that are still subject to regulatory scrutiny.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has indeed expressed optimism about the lawsuit nearing its conclusion. But there is no public indication, either from Ripple or the SEC, that XRP was ever considered a valid form of payment for the penalty. Marc Fagel’s comments cut through the noise of crypto speculation with a dose of legal clarity. Ripple’s $125 million fine has been paid in U.S. dollars, not in XRP. While XRP remains central to Ripple’s technology and broader financial ambitions, it is not, as Fagel put it, a substitute for compliance.

Experts believe that XRP’s popularity among retail investors also fuels demand. Additionally, the possibility of its integration into regulated services provides an additional boost. According to Messari analyst Matt Kreiser, XRP Ledger’s infrastructure includes built-in compliance features, making the asset promising amid ongoing discussions about stablecoin legislation. The recent price surge is also likely influenced by the resolution of a multi-year legal dispute between Ripple Labs and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). As the case nears its conclusion, analysts believe the improved regulatory climate could be a potential driver for further XRP gains.

Recent developments surrounding XRP have centered on its evolving position within the cryptocurrency landscape and regulatory environment. Activity in the U.S. House of Representatives has drawn significant attention, as lawmakers engaged in discussions and advanced three bills aimed at establishing new regulatory frameworks and guidelines for the cryptocurrency industry during their dedicated "Crypto Week" initiative. This legislative focus is seen as a potential catalyst for broader cryptocurrency adoption, providing much-needed clarity that could benefit established assets like XRP.

Institutional integration appears to be a key aspect of XRP's current value proposition. While it hasn't replaced the SWIFT banking messaging network as some early predictions suggested, analysis indicates that XRP has solidified its position as a functional, regulated asset within the institutional payments space throughout 2025. Its role in facilitating cross-border transactions continues to be relevant for specific institutional use cases.

Historical context is often referenced, recalling a significant rally experienced by XRP in late 2024 and early 2025. That period culminated in January 2025 when the cryptocurrency matched its previous all-time high valuation milestone. This past performance contributes to ongoing market sentiment discussions about the asset's potential trajectory.

The combination of progressing regulatory developments providing clearer pathways for the crypto sector and XRP's established niche in institutional payments forms the core narrative driving current interest and analysis around the digital asset, independent of short-term market fluctuations.