Why Does Wall Street Favor XRP Over BTC and ETH?

When it comes to crypto assets that traditional financial institutions are interested in, most people immediately think of Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). However, in reality, there is one name that Wall Street is seriously watching: XRP. Currently, approved crypto ETFs include: BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, LINK, DOGE, HBAR, AVAX, LTC. Notably, besides BTC and ETH, the XRP ETF attracts the largest institutional capital flow, far surpassing community favorites like SOL. So what makes major financial institutions bet on XRP, while retail markets often overlook it? XRP Is Not a “Speculative Coin,” But a Piece of Financial Infrastructure The core reason XRP deserves attention isn’t rooted in DeFi narratives or memes, but in its strategic position in the upgrade of the global financial system. The focus of this story is ISO 20022 – the new financial messaging standard, considered the “common language” of the future global banking system. ISO 20022 is designed to replace SWIFT, which has been operating for decades but is increasingly showing limitations. Important point: XRP is one of the very few crypto assets designed to be natively compatible with ISO 20022, and Ripple (the company behind XRP) is directly involved in developing this standard. ISO 20022 And XRP’s Real Opportunity The payment system is constantly evolving: Cash → electronic transfers → digital payments → global real-time payment infrastructure. ISO 20022 enables: Richer financial data transmissionBetter transparency and traceabilityCompliance with banking regulations and risk management requirements According to the roadmap, from November 2025, ISO 20022 will officially take over the central role from SWIFT. At that point, banks will be required to upgrade their systems. In this context, XRP acts as a bridge asset: Transactions settle within secondsAlmost zero costNo major infrastructure overhaul needed For financial institutions, this is a cost-effective – fast – easily integrable solution, exactly what they need. The Advantage No Altcoin Can Match A very important factor often overlooked by retail markets: 👉 Ripple is the only crypto company with voting rights within the ISO 20022 organization, sitting at the table with global banks and financial conglomerates to shape the rules. While many other projects only claim “theoretical compatibility,”: Ripple’s partner banks have already begun implementing ISO 20022XRP can be directly integrated into existing payment flowsReal-world penetration into the financial system is greater than most other cryptos This is an advantage that SOL, AVAX, or other smart contract platforms will find hard to compete with in the short term. Risks and Investment Perspectives Of course, XRP is not without risks: Legal regulations vary across countries and are not fully harmonizedBanks may develop their own private chain systemsThe actual adoption process could be slower than expected However, in the short term, the acceleration of the ISO 20022 transition from late 2025 is expected to generate significant adoption hype. In the long run, if XRP truly establishes itself within the global financial infrastructure, it will no longer follow the typical “speculative altcoin” trajectory. Conclusion XRP is not a coin for “riding narratives,” but a long-term bet tied to the upgrade of the global financial system. This is also why Wall Street and financial institutions are particularly interested in XRP, even though the retail community often underestimates it. As for whether XRP is worth accumulating during a bear market, after understanding its nature and position, everyone probably has their own answer.