Bitrabo Editorial
During an insightful interview on “The Scoop” with Frank Chaparro, Ripple President Monica Long shared the company’s vision for introducing a US dollar stablecoin (RLUSD) and explored the potential for an XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF). This development follows a crucial regulatory clarification last July in the US courts, affirming XRP’s status as a commodity rather than a security, which has opened up new business opportunities for Ripple in the American market.
Ripple’s Approach to RLUSD
Long explained that the decision to launch a stablecoin is driven by Ripple’s clients’ and banks’ needs for efficient and transparent transactions. The stablecoin will target enhancing efficiency in key payment corridors abundant in liquidity, like USD to EUR transactions. On the other hand, XRP will continue serving as a bridge asset, especially in less liquid and costly payment channels, showcasing how stablecoins and XRP cater to diverse needs within Ripple’s ecosystem.
Ripple’s strategic vision for the stablecoin involved leveraging existing partnerships and regulatory compliance to ensure its acceptance and trustworthiness in the market, providing an alternative payment solution to its clients.
Ripple’s Expansion into Enterprise Blockchain Solutions
Beyond payments, Ripple aspires to offer comprehensive blockchain solutions for enterprises. Long highlighted this shift, indicating Ripple’s initiative to become a leading enterprise blockchain infrastructure provider, supporting financial institutions in activities such as asset tokenization and offering end-to-end infrastructure for various financial services.
This strategic expansion is reinforced by substantial investments in infrastructure such as blockchain connectivity with traditional financial systems, regulatory compliance features, and custody services obtained through the acquisition of Metaco by Ripple.
Challenges and Opportunities in Regulation
Although Ripple’s legal win offered some relief, Long expressed concerns about the ongoing regulatory hurdles in the US, citing the SEC’s stringent stance on crypto regulation. She contrasted this with more favorable regulatory environments internationally, citing countries like Singapore and Brazil for their supportive crypto business regulations and the significant regulatory progress made in Europe with the introduction of MiCA.
Prospect of a US Spot XRP ETF
Long discussed the potential for a spot XRP ETF in the US, emphasizing the importance of the legal confirmation of XRP’s status. Given XRP’s consistent top-tier ranking and trading volumes on major exchanges like Coinbase, Long sees the court’s ruling affirming XRP as a non-security as a pivotal factor in considering an ETF as a logical progression.
An XRP ETF could leverage the asset’s market presence to attract more institutional investors, enhancing accessibility and integration with traditional financial markets.
As of the latest update, XRP was trading at $0.47378.