Ripple CTO Reveals How Tokenized Assets Could Revolutionize Cross-Border Finance

Cross-border finance is about to get a seismic upgrade—and Ripple's CTO just dropped the blueprint.

Tokenized assets aren't just the future; they're the skeleton key for global liquidity. Imagine swapping real estate in Tokyo for carbon credits in London—instantly, without the usual Wall Street middlemen taking their pound of flesh.

The tech? A blockchain bridge that cuts through legacy banking like a hot knife. No more 3-day settlement waits. No more correspondent banking fees that'd make a loan shark blush.

Of course, banks will still try to slap 'innovation' stickers on their 50-year-old infrastructure. But when the rails are this fast, even the most stubborn institutions can't pretend SWIFT is cutting it anymore.

Game on. The race to tokenize everything—from bonds to Picasso's—just got its missing link.

Why Volatility Isn’t Always a Problem in Cross-Border Transfers

Schwartz explained that volatility doesn’t necessarily disqualify an asset from being useful in global payments. In fact, he noted that many digital assets offer greater upside potential, which can offset short-term risks—especially when they are held only briefly during transfers.

“There are use cases where volatility isn’t a minus, or is even a plus,” Schwartz said. “Generally, for most digital assets the general view is that the upside is worth more than the downside.”

When used as a bridge currency, XRP is only held momentarily between two fiat or tokenized assets during a transaction. This transient use limits exposure to price swings while taking advantage of XRP’s broad liquidity and instant settlement times. According to Schwartz, this makes it more adaptable than stablecoins, which often rely on trusted issuers and can face accessibility issues in certain jurisdictions.

XRP’s Role in a Fragmented Global Financial System

Schwartz emphasized that XRP’s Core value lies in its neutrality and its ability to operate seamlessly across borders. Unlike fiat currencies or stablecoins backed by traditional institutions, XRP exists independently of any government or central entity. This makes it an appealing choice for financial systems that span multiple regulatory environments.

He further explained that XRP’s real-time liquidity is a major benefit in today’s fragmented financial landscape. As financial institutions and enterprises explore tokenization of assets—such as bonds, real estate, and equities—they need an intermediary asset that can connect otherwise incompatible systems. XRP’s design as a decentralized and jurisdiction-agnostic currency makes it a natural fit for this role.

XRPL and the Compliance Challenge

In addition to discussing XRP itself, Schwartz highlighted the capabilities of the XRP Ledger (XRPL), Ripple’s decentralized blockchain infrastructure. He noted that the XRPL includes a built-in decentralized exchange (DEX), which in theory could facilitate global payments across tokenized assets. However, Ripple has not yet used the XRPL DEX for enterprise-grade payment flows due to compliance concerns.

“Even Ripple can’t use the XRPL DEX for payments yet because we can’t be sure a terrorist won’t provide the liquidity for payment,” Schwartz admitted.

To address these regulatory concerns, Ripple is currently developing permissioned features within the XRPL. These tools are intended to provide transaction-level control over participants and liquidity sources, satisfying the needs of institutional clients and regulators alike.

Looking Ahead: XRP’s Future in Tokenized Markets

As more financial markets MOVE toward tokenization—where traditional assets are represented as digital tokens on blockchains—the need for interoperability and real-time settlement is growing. Schwartz believes XRP is well-positioned to become the bridge that enables seamless asset movement across jurisdictions.

“XRP was purpose-built for this,” he said, referring to the asset’s ability to support scalable and secure settlement flows.

He concluded by noting that XRP’s ecosystem, including the XRPL and upcoming compliance features, offers a future-proof foundation for tokenized finance. Whether it’s settling a bond between Europe and Asia or transferring value between two different stablecoins, XRP could serve as the unifying layer.

Conclusion

Ripple’s David Schwartz makes a compelling case for XRP as a core infrastructure component in the future of tokenized finance. With global markets evolving rapidly and institutions seeking interoperable solutions, XRP’s unique traits—neutrality, liquidity, and real-time settlement—give it a clear edge. While regulatory compliance remains a hurdle, ongoing developments in the XRP Ledger may soon enable SAFE and compliant enterprise use. As the financial world embraces tokenized assets, XRP could become the bridge that connects them all.