Did Ripple Just Go All-In on Wall Street?

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Key Takeaways

What’s Next for Ripple?

Ripple just pulled off the crypto-equivalent of strutting across the red carpet with a whopping $500 million embrace from institutional investors. They’re also cozying up to Mastercard for some RLUSD love on XRPL.

Where do XRP holders fit in?

I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but XRP holders are getting the coattails treatment. Only 65% are in the profit lane, while the rest are left panting in the ozone layer-or rather, scuba-diving for bubbles. Meanwhile, Ripple’s churning out the Wall Street magic show funded by their own XRP stash.

It’s a challenge to pat Ripple’s CEO on the back for calling 2025 “incredible.” Sure, XRP has climbed a modest 12% YTD, but the bulk of it is still wallowing underwater. This is the sort of 37% ‘submarine situation’ we hadn’t seen since the last election cycle, when bartering chickens was in vogue.

Yet, Ripple remains the prom king of institutional pushing-zoning in on the enterprise bandwagon with billions of dollars. But it begs the question: Is Ripple’s extravaganza more about currying Wall Street’s affection than cuddling up to XRP holders?

The SEC Symphony

Ripple’s strategic roadmap apparently needs to rub shoulders with the SEC more than with its blockchain brethren.

Lately, Ripple announced its $500 million jackpot from a lineup of institutional investors, rocketing its valuation to an eye-popping $40 billion. In crypto terms, that’s strutting alongside the top 250 firms in the S&P 500-talk about being the belle of the ball!

They didn’t stop there; Ripple threw its hat into the payments ring and partnered with Mastercard. The MRMD (Ripple Love Language) of the deal: RLUSD can settle credit card payments on XRPL. Picture this: You flash a Mastercard, and bam, RLUSD does the financial hand shuffle behind the curtain. How smooth is that?

Scaling Wall Street: A Dance of Destiny?

Opinions are split like a Thanksgiving turkey-does Ripple’s playbook favor Wall Street over XRP holders?

On-chain stats reveal only 65% of XRP supply in profit, hitting a 12-month low-definitely not the hot ticket during last year’s peak of $3.35. Meanwhile, Chris Larsen, co-founder and kingmaker, casually sold 60 million XRP in one quarter. Now, the folks holding onto 2.35 billion XRP think he just bought himself a really nice-but probably ostentatious-yacht.

So, to sum it up, Ripple’s dishing out XRP to pump up their share value and not directly benefiting holders. Critics are wagging their fingers, pointing out that Ripple’s broadening its Wall Street charm offensive, while XRP holders get left holding the bag. We’re left to ponder if future XRP sales will just be funding Ripple’s Wall Street aspirations with the XRP holders unwittingly writing the song.

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2025-11-06 12:11