XRP Introduction: More than just an “old coin”

XRP is the native token launched by Ripple Labs, aiming to become the intermediary asset for global cross-border payments. Its high performance and low cost make it a potential alternative to the traditional SWIFT system. Compared with Bitcoin and Ethereum, XRP pays more attention to the landing of application scenarios, especially in the banking and remittance business.

Current XRP price performance and market sentiment

Image:https://www.gate.io/trade/XRP_USDT

As of mid-May 2025, the price of XRP has been fluctuating between $2.50 and $2.60, an increase of over 180% compared to the same period last year.

Key driving factors include:

• Reached a $50 million settlement agreement with the SEC, ending a three-year legal dispute;
• Bitcoin returning to $100,000 triggers a rise in overall risk appetite in the crypto market;
• Ripple expands cooperation with Southeast Asian payment institutions to accelerate international business deployment.

The current market sentiment is optimistic, but most analysts believe that whether XRP can continue to rise depends on whether the fundamental driving force can be sustained.

The five key factors driving XRP price

1. Clarification of regulations
   The settlement between Ripple and the SEC significantly reduces legal uncertainty, and many exchanges resume trading XRP.
2. Cross-border payment demand is growing
   With the increasing demand for global e-commerce and immigrant remittances, low-latency, low-cost payment solutions are favored, and XRP is one of the suitable choices.
3. The activity of the Ripple network
   The number of participating nodes, transaction volume, and daily active wallets in the RippleNet network all directly impact the value support of XRP.
4. Improved market liquidity
   XRP is gradually recovering its circulation on major trading platforms in North America and Europe, which means its price is more resilient and has greater volatility.
5. Macroeconomic and USD trends
   If the US dollar continues to weaken, it will push up the valuation of digital assets, making XRP more attractive as a “neutral settlement asset”.

The impact of market trends and investor behavior

Recent data shows that XRP is gaining popularity simultaneously among retail and institutional investors.

• Reddit, the discussion heat on X surged;
• Multiple funds include XRP in their alternative token basket configurations;
• The number of on-chain wallet addresses has exceeded 5 million.

This means that XRP is no longer just a speculative target, but is gradually evolving into an asset with structural holding value.

The bullish logic and challenges of XRP’s future

The bullish logic includes:

• If Ripple cooperates with more central banks of sovereign countries, it will greatly boost the demand for XRP usage;
• If it becomes a bridge asset for CBDC in the Asia region, its price upside potential will be further opened;
• If DeFi and AI agents can integrate XRP payments, it will bring additional use cases.

Challenges include:

• Facing competition pressure from new public chains such as Ethereum, Solana, etc.;
• Risk of technical lag or network interruption;
• Some countries may still define XRP as a security, leading to restricted use.

Risk Warning and Conclusion

Although the xrp price is showing a steady upward trend, its future is still affected by multiple uncertainties. Especially in the context of incomplete global regulatory policies, investing in XRP needs to be cautious. Risk reminder: The price of cryptocurrencies fluctuates sharply. This article is for information reference only and does not constitute investment advice. Investors should make rational decisions based on their own risk tolerance.

In conclusion, the price of XRP depends not only on market popularity but also more fundamentally reflects its changing position in the global payment system. Focusing on fundamentals is more important than blindly chasing highs, which is the first lesson for novice investors.