Ripple CTO: Why XRP Will Crush RLUSD in the Payments Race

Ripple's chief tech officer just dropped a bombshell—XRP isn't just surviving the stablecoin invasion, it's poised to dominate. Here's why.

The Speed Trap RLUSD Can't Escape

While RLUSD wrestles with legacy banking rails, XRP slices through cross-border payments in 3 seconds flat. No bridges, no wrapped tokens—just pure settlement efficiency.

Liquidity Wars: The Silent Killer

Stablecoins need dollar reserves. XRP needs math. When the next liquidity crisis hits, guess which asset won't get caught holding empty vaults?

The Regulatory Endgame

SEC battles? Bring it on. XRP's clarity as a non-security gives it runway while stablecoins face the coming crackdown. 'Compliant' won't save RLUSD when regulators start hunting algorithmic ghosts.

The Bottom Line

Bankers love stablecoins because they're predictable—like 2% Treasury yields. XRP? It's the volatile, disruptive rocket fuel payment systems actually need. Game on.

TLDR

• Ripple CTO confirmed that XRP will continue to serve as the primary bridge currency in cross-border payments.
• He stated that XRP’s role remains important despite the growing use of stablecoins like RLUSD.
• The volatility of XRP is not a major concern because it is held for only a short time during transactions.
• Ripple CTO explained that liquidity providers must hold XRP to support efficient trading and payments.
• He clarified that XRP and RLUSD are complementary and serve different purposes in Ripple’s ecosystem.

Ripple CTO has reaffirmed XRP’s leading role in cross-border payments, despite the emergence of new stablecoins like RLUSD. His statement addressed doubts about XRP’s utility and long-term relevance in Ripple’s payment infrastructure. The remarks followed growing online discussions questioning XRP’s market impact and trading volume despite institutional support.

Ripple CTO Highlights XRP’s Core Role

Ripple CTO emphasized that XRP remains essential for bridging international payments in today’s fragmented stablecoin environment. As various fiat-backed stablecoins operate globally, a neutral digital asset like XRP ensures seamless conversions. He clarified that XRP’s utility as a bridge token makes it indispensable for instant settlements.

Moreover, Ripple CTO explained that volatility concerns are minimal since XRP is only held briefly during transactions. This minimizes exposure and enhances efficiency across multiple markets. Therefore, institutions prefer XRP when uncertain about future currency requirements.

Ripple CTO further stated that liquidity providers must hold XRP to enable trades across platforms and markets. This ongoing demand secures XRP’s relevance in Ripple’s payment strategy. He added that its DEEP liquidity supports broader institutional adoption in cross-border operations.

RLUSD Stablecoin Not a Replacement

Ripple CTO addressed concerns about RLUSD’s impact on XRP’s role within Ripple’s ecosystem. He clarified that RLUSD and XRP serve complementary purposes in digital payments. RLUSD provides fiat stability, while XRP ensures liquidity and bridging across currencies.

He explained that a single dominant stablecoin may not suit a multi-currency world needing neutral, scalable bridging assets. Ripple CTO argued that XRP fills this gap better than any specific fiat-backed token. This makes XRP the preferred solution in dynamic, international financial environments.

Additionally, Ripple CTO noted that even Ripple does not always use on-chain systems due to regulatory uncertainties. He mentioned the lack of safeguards against misuse on decentralized exchanges as a factor. However, he proposed permissioned domains as a way to enable secure adoption.

"Ripple has 300+ bank partnerships, but after 13 years, shouldn't there be billions in daily on-chain volume?"

I think there are a number of reasons why institutions have historically preferred to use digital assets off chain rather than on chain. I think we're close to changing…

— David 'JoelKatz' Schwartz (@JoelKatz) July 30, 2025

Scalability and Institutional Interest in XRP Ledger

Ripple CTO pointed out that institutions like BlackRock could leverage XRP Ledger’s scalability instead of creating private chains. XRPL’s chain-agnostic framework supports global tokenized asset systems efficiently. Its design aligns with institutional needs for secure and fast settlements.

He also referenced how assets like USDC operate on multiple networks, drawing a parallel to XRP Ledger’s interoperable structure. This enhances its use case across varied financial applications. Ripple CTO affirmed that XRPL allows participation without restricting users based on nationality.