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The last week has proven extremely strong for XRP as the asset regained momentum across both its spot and ETF markets, following its recent price rally.

Over the period, XRP saw its price suddenly flip bullish after seeing stronger demand from investors, causing its ETF market to post its best weekly performance since May.

Nearly $40 million fresh capital Per data provided by SosoValue, XRP ETFs saw steady inflows on nearly all days of the week as they attracted a total of $39.78 million in net inflows last week.

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While this is coming after multiple weeks of recording little to no fresh capital, the inflows seen last week mark a major recovery from a prolonged period of relatively muted demand.

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The largest share of the fresh capital flowed in on August 21st, when XRP rallied by over 20% within a 24-hour period and the XRP ETFs also recorded $18.38 million in net inflows during the same day.

This resurgence in demand for XRP ETFs triggered an increase in their cumulative net inflows, causing them to rise to a massive $1.55 billion milestone since they launched late last year.

Bitwise continues to buy XRPWhile the major XRP ETF recovery came amid a broader crypto market resurgence, XRP's price rallied by nearly 60% over the period, drawing attention to the leading altcoin.

Amid the bullish momentum, institutional investors continued to increasingly demand the XRP product through Bitwise as the firm led all XRP funds on all their positive trading days.

While Bitwise also led the latest inflow with a fresh capital intake of $16.89 million, the Bitwise XRP ETF now boasts about $443.46 million in net assets.

16h35 ▪ 7 min read ▪ by Luc Jose A.

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AI now goes beyond simple analysis and advisory functions. It already makes payments. Thanks to the advent and development of autonomous agents capable of conducting banking and commercial transactions, the role of the XRP Ledger will undergo an evolution. In addition to its function as a visible settlement infrastructure, the network could also serve as a secondary financial layer, directly solicited by machines. This revolution also shifts the question of adoption. Beyond the traded volumes, the value of the blockchain would now be assessed by its ability to automate various payments, organize flows, and make the network almost invisible to users.

In Brief More than one million transactions have already been executed without human intervention by AI agents on the XRP Ledger (XRPL). The launch of the XRPL AI Starter Kit and the integration of Mastercard’s Agent Pay for Machines program structure payments in XRP and RLUSD. AI agents are evolving towards concrete purchases governed by budgets, merchant restrictions, and strict mandates. The use of XRPL Payment Channels aggregates thousands of off-chain micro-transactions to preserve network scalability. The Rise of Spending Mandates and Trade Automation on the XRP Network The transition from automated programs to full-fledged economic actors surpasses a critical phase on the XRPL. Indeed, Chandler Fang, co-founder of the trusted startup for AI agents t54 and former product manager at Ripple with experience at J.P. Morgan, highlighted this shift by noting that machine-to-machine transactions are no longer theoretical. For him, agents already conduct more than one million transactions on the XRP Ledger without human presence in the system.

Since June 10, this momentum has been built through the launch of the XRPL AI Starter Kit. This kit allows making x402 payments in XRP using the Ripple(USD) stablecoin for compensating computing resources, model inference, or API access. This methodology expanded commercially the same day following the inauguration of Mastercard’s “Agent Pay for Machines” program. The launch brought together more than thirty partners including Coinbase, Stripe, the Solana Foundation, and Ripple via its subsidiary RippleX.

Furthermore, the system integrates crypto settlement channels within traditional payment infrastructures for invoice processing. It also reserves computing capacity without prior human validation. Given these deployments and a $5 million financial support granted to t54 by Ripple and Franklin Templeton during a seed round, Chandler Fang stated: “this changes how we should think about XRPL adoption”.

This gradual progression is based on a strict evolution of authorization mechanisms granted to software. After consuming exclusively digital services at the core of automated workflows, agents move toward spending mandates regulated by concise budgets, merchant limitations, and user-set approval rules.

The network now requires the development of crypto wallets associated with configurable financial instruments. Concerning merchants, this deployment necessitates software adaptation capable of presenting prices, stock status, delivery conditions, and settlement interfaces in a form readable by autonomous systems. Ultimately, agents that build a reliable history regarding identity, transactions, and reimbursements will no longer be pre-funded operation by operation. They will immediately receive financial capacities or lines of credit.

Numerous strategic initiatives and technical developments make up this new stage of institutional adoption :

Strong institutional anchoring : the $5 million financial support obtained by t54 from Ripple and Franklin Templeton validates the industrial relevance of trusted infrastructures for AI ; Bank interoperability : RippleX’s integration into Mastercard’s “Agent Pay for Machines” program brings together major crypto players and payment giants within a single framework ; Standardization of x402 payments : the combined use of XRP and RLUSD ensures full flexibility between rapid settlement and monetary stability for microservices. Off-Chain Payment Channels to Crypto Coexistence The increase in commercial flows driven by artificial intelligence does not mean that every price comparison or compliance check materializes by a direct inscription on the XRPL. To preserve the ecosystem’s capacity against high-frequency requests, the architecture relies on XRPL Payment Channels.

This process allows two parties to exchange signed claims in XRP off the global consensus before settling their final obligation through a single transaction on this ledger. Three workloads emerge: recurring low-value payments for web micro-services, less frequent but higher transactions for enterprise commerce, and thousands of internal operations aggregated before the ultimate on-chain settlement. In this context, settlement needs condition the asset used. Ripple’s crypto XRP plays a routing and direct settlement role, whereas RLUSD provides monetary stability denominated in dollars for certain acquisitions.

There is thus a functional operational complementarity between these two assets within the network. While the XRP crypto retains its appeal for cross-border liquidity and immediate interoperability, the RLUSD stablecoin secures the accounting predictability required by companies for managing their IT subscriptions or stocks. This coexistence between the two settlement instruments facilitates infrastructure adaptation to regulatory and financial requirements of institutional actors, without forgetting the optimization of transaction costs for continuously made micropayments.

The Disappearance of Graphical Interfaces in Favor of Backend Banking Adoption Such infrastructure will become completely invisible to the end user in the long term. Embedded directly within treasury platforms, logistics software, or institutional financial applications, agents will assess risks and handle blockchain infrastructure selection in the background without any interface manipulation by the individual. In this perspective, Chandler Fang emphasizes: “long-term adoption does not require every person to open an XRPL wallet or consciously choose a blockchain before accomplishing a task”.

Thus, transaction volume no longer constitutes a relevant adoption metric. The network will now be evaluated based on the recurrence of operations, gains generated by merchants, strict respect of assigned budgets, as well as efficiency in dispute settlement. As the former Ripple manager concluded: “by then, XRPL will not be judged solely on agents’ capacity to use it. It will be judged on the amount of useful economic activity they choose to settle on it”.

This transition therefore sets the crucial milestones for integrating decentralized ledgers into the global economic fabric. While this shift to transparent fundamental transactions promises to resolve interoperability issues between traditional banking systems and blockchains, adoption speed will depend exclusively on the robustness of security standards imposed on agents.

The analogy drawn by Chandler Fang with the emergence of ChatGPT recalls that infrastructure deployment seems long and uncertain before suddenly appearing as an obvious solution to the general public. It is now up to developers and financial institutions to test the resilience of these aggregation channels, as the true measure of success for the XRP Ledger’s industrial achievement will lie in its ability to support this secure payload.

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Luc Jose A.

Diplômé de Sciences Po Toulouse et titulaire d'une certification consultant blockchain délivrée par Alyra, j'ai rejoint l'aventure Cointribune en 2019. Convaincu du potentiel de la blockchain pour transformer de nombreux secteurs de l'économie, j'ai pris l'engagement de sensibiliser et d'informer le grand public sur cet écosystème en constante évolution. Mon objectif est de permettre à chacun de mieux comprendre la blockchain et de saisir les opportunités qu'elle offre. Je m'efforce chaque jour de fournir une analyse objective de l'actualité, de décrypter les tendances du marché, de relayer les dernières innovations technologiques et de mettre en perspective les enjeux économiques et sociétaux de cette révolution en marche.

DISCLAIMER

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.

XRP extended its bullish streak, cleared the $1.50 resistance, and reached a seven-month high of $1.67. The altcoin later retraced to $1.5114 but remained up 15% on the daily chart.

The rally coincided with an 89% increase in Trading Volume, reflecting stronger market participation.

Are whales and institutions buying XRP? XRP maintained its upward trajectory as demand strengthened across Spot and institutional markets.

Whale activity first showed that large holders had reduced transfers toward exchanges. The Whale to Exchange Flow fell to 336, returning to levels recorded before the market recovered three days earlier.

Source: CryptoQuant Falling Whale to Exchange Flow showed that fewer whale-linked transfers reached exchanges. This decline suggested weaker immediate selling pressure, although it did not confirm fresh whale purchases.

Meanwhile, institutional demand added another layer of support.

Source: SoSoValue Whale Insider reported that Bitwise’s XRP ETF recorded $16.9 million in Daily Net Inflows. The fund marked its third consecutive day of positive flows.

Overall, XRP ETFs attracted $18.3 million, recording their highest Daily Net Inflows in three months. These purchases reflected stronger institutional demand as XRP challenged its seven-month high.

However, the derivatives market showed where that confidence could become unstable.

Can XRP survive rising leverage? XRP recorded heavy liquidations across both sides of the derivatives market.

Over 24 hours, $59.7 million in Long Positions and $49 million in Short Positions were liquidated. Total Liquidations exceeded $109 million, showing that volatility punished traders on both sides.

Source: CoinGlass Even so, Open Interest increased 10% to $3.68 billion. Derivatives Volume also jumped 65% to $19.2 billion, showing that traders continued speculating despite recent losses.

Source: CoinGlass Rising Open Interest confirmed additional exposure but did not reveal whether traders favored Long or Short Positions. This leverage could amplify XRP’s next move, whichever direction price takes.

XRP’s bullish structure remained intact as market demand held steady. The Relative Vigor Index [RVGI] climbed to 0.49, reflecting stronger bullish momentum and buyer control.

Source: TradingView Meanwhile, the Momentum Indicator rose to 0.53, supporting the possibility of trend continuation.

If demand holds, XRP could target the $1.94 resistance next. However, another liquidation wave could weaken the rally and expose the $1.30 support.

Final Summary

XRP gained 15% and reached a seven-month high of $1.67. XRP ETF Daily Net Inflows reached a three-month high of $18.3 million.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has disclosed that Ripple’s business ecosystem processed $16 trillion in transactions last year, highlighting the growing scale of the company’s global financial operations. This figure reflects the combined transaction volume from newly acquired businesses that now operate under Ripple.

Major acquisitions drive transaction volumeGarlinghouse attributed Ripple’s $16 trillion transaction total to the integration of two acquisitions completed during the previous year. The company acquired Hidden Road, a non-bank prime broker responsible for approximately $3 trillion in cleared transactions, and G-Treasury, a treasury management software provider which processed $13 trillion in transaction activity.

Today, Ripple operates these entities as Ripple Prime and Ripple Treasury, forming the backbone of the company’s expanding business. Garlinghouse described the resulting combined transaction volume as similar in scale to the activity handled by large global payment processors such as Visa.

Both Ripple Prime and Ripple Treasury are currently experiencing what Garlinghouse described as record years, and the CEO expressed confidence that the overall volume will continue to climb. He stated that the company anticipates increasing financial activity as demand among corporate clients rises.

Ripple’s combined transaction flow through its acquired businesses reached $16 trillion last year, a figure Garlinghouse compared to Visa’s network scale. These segments are reporting record performance, further boosting Ripple’s expectations for transaction growth.

Mini dictionary: G-Treasury is a treasury and cash management software company that assists organizations in automating payments, managing liquidity, and optimizing financial workflows.

On-chain settlement remains limitedGarlinghouse drew attention to the relationship between the total transaction volume and blockchain settlement. He estimated that currently only about 0.1% of Ripple’s $16 trillion in transaction flow settles on-chain in stablecoins, XRP, or similar blockchain-based assets. Each additional 0.1% migrated on-chain could represent an estimated $160 billion in transaction activity.

Ripple’s CEO outlined a long-term goal to boost the share of transaction volume completed with blockchain-based settlement. He said this strategy aims to provide corporate clients with increased efficiency in terms of speed, cost, and transaction certainty.

Business UnitTransaction VolumeStatusRipple Prime (Hidden Road)$3 trillionActive, Record YearRipple Treasury (G-Treasury)$13 trillionActive, Record YearTotal Ripple Ecosystem$16 trillionGrowingCorporate demand for stablecoin solutions increasesGarlinghouse observed a recent uptick in outreach from chief financial officers and treasurers, who are now seeking information on blockchain settlement and stablecoin use cases. He explained that many of these inquiries originate from executives unsure how to unlock idle capital distributed across global subsidiaries.

According to Garlinghouse, Ripple has been asked to assist these organizations in maximizing global liquidity and improving operational flexibility by utilizing stablecoins and other blockchain technologies. This increasing attention from financial decision-makers points to broader adoption of blockchain within established corporate finance practices.

Executives are now turning to Ripple for guidance on how stablecoins and blockchain systems can help unlock trapped corporate capital and manage global liquidity more efficiently.

Emphasis shifts to real utility in the crypto sectorAddressing cryptocurrency market dynamics, Garlinghouse emphasized the importance of developing real-world utility, suggesting that industry sustainability relies on genuine use cases rather than speculation or meme coins.

He outlined how Ripple’s expansion into large-scale financial services positions the company to demonstrate tangible benefits for institutional clients, especially as more businesses explore blockchain-based settlement.

While most of Ripple’s activity currently remains off-chain, Garlinghouse believes the growing shift toward on-chain settlement could result in significant increases in blockchain transaction volume going forward.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.

Ripple’s U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin, RLUSD, has reached a market capitalization of $2.035 billion, according to recent CoinGecko data. The milestone comes just months after the stablecoin’s launch in December 2024, making RLUSD one of the fastest-rising regulated assets in its category.

Rapid supply growth and XRP Ledger momentumThe current RLUSD supply is approaching $1 billion on the XRP Ledger, indicating rising adoption on Ripple’s native blockchain network. Over the last day, several major minting events were recorded from the RLUSD Treasury, including issuances of 40 million, 25 million, 20 million, 19 million, 14 million, and 12 million RLUSD. This surge in minting activity has injected new liquidity into the ecosystem.

RLUSD’s presence on the XRP Ledger is growing rapidly, with recent issuances adding substantial liquidity to support users and applications within Ripple’s ecosystem.

Much of RLUSD’s recent expansion has taken place on the XRP Ledger, though Ethereum initially served as the primary network following its debut. The shift highlights an increased deployment of RLUSD on Ripple’s proprietary infrastructure.

Mini dictionary: XRP Ledger, Ripple’s open-source blockchain protocol designed for fast and efficient payments globally. It enables the issuance, transfer, and exchange of digital assets directly on-chain.

Top contenders in the stablecoin raceRLUSD’s rapid growth has launched it into the ranks of leading dollar-backed stablecoins, now placing it just behind prominent tokens such as Tether’s USDT, Circle’s USDC, Maker’s USDS, Dai, Ethena’s USDe, and PayPal USD (PYUSD).

Presently, PayPal’s PYUSD stands at a capitalization of around $2.87 billion, holding less than a $1 billion advantage over RLUSD. The narrowing gap suggests RLUSD could soon challenge PYUSD’s position among regulated stablecoins if its current pace continues.

StablecoinMarket Cap (USD)Tether (USDT)$183 billionCircle (USDC)$73 billionMaker (USDS)$9.7 billionDai$4.5 billionEthena (USDe)$4 billionPayPal USD (PYUSD)$2.87 billionRipple RLUSD$2.035 billionTether’s USDT continues to lead the stablecoin sector with a market capitalization of $183 billion, followed by Circle’s USDC at $73 billion. Other notable competitors include USDS, Dai, and Ethena’s USDe, each maintaining multi-billion dollar market caps.

The gap between RLUSD and PYUSD is now less than $1 billion, positioning RLUSD as a serious contender among regulated stablecoins.

Ripple, known for its enterprise blockchain solutions and cross-border payment systems, has stated that RLUSD’s regulated status and growing circulation underpin its ongoing momentum.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.

Cover image via U.Today Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.

According to the Ripple stablecoin tracker website, Ethereum has now overtaken the XRP Ledger in RLUSD supply.

Based on current data supplied by the page, RLUSD circulating supply on the XRP Ledger is now $941.36 million, which has been surpassed by that of Ethereum, which is $989.34 million.

The change comes as Ripple continues to adjust RLUSD liquidity across its supported blockchain networks. Specifically, the last 24 hours have seen more RLUSD minted on Ethereum than on the XRP ledger, with larger activity in favor of the former (Ethereum). 

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On August 20, $73.8 million RLUSD was minted on ethereum with $23.5 million burned. On August 21 so far, $53.2 million RLUSD was minted on Ethereum with $15 million burned. 

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This surpasses XRP Ledger, which saw $36.1 million RLUSD minted on August 20 and $15.4 million RLUSD burned in this timeframe. So far on August 21, $12.5 million RLUSD was minted on the XRPL and $6.5 million burned. 

Ripple stablecoin tracker X account details some of these transactions over the last 24 hours.

In recent hours, two transactions of 25,000,000 RLUSD and 20,000,000 RLUSD minted on Ethereum were reported, while 10,000,000 RLUSD was burned on the blockchain. One transaction of 10,000,000 RLUSD minted on XRP Ledger was reported. Another three transactions of 20,000,000 RLUSD, 14,000,000 RLUSD and 16,000,000 RLUSD minted on Ethereum were reported within the last 24 hours. 

RLUSD nears $2 billion in circulating supplyWith the ongoing activity, the RLUSD total circulating supply is fast approaching the $2 billion milestone, currently at $1.93 billion according to the Ripple stablecoin tracker page.  The current figure of $1.939 billion in total circulating supply marks an all-time high for the Ripple USD (RLUSD) stablecoin, which launched in December 2024. 

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RLUSD was launched with support for both the XRP Ledger and Ethereum, allowing its access across two major networks.

In June, the XRP Ledger surpassed the Ethereum blockchain in RLUSD circulating supply for the first time. Now, a recent supply shift has flipped this tide, and the XRP community is watching what comes next. 

XRP experienced a notable rally on Thursday, jumping over 25% to reach $1.245, in a move that mirrors Bitcoin’s breakout past $72,000. The sharp price increase followed several weeks of growing accumulation by large XRP holders, commonly known as whales.

Whale accumulation intensifiesOnchain data from CryptoQuant confirmed that average spot order sizes for XRP have remained in the highest range throughout 2026, reflecting steady accumulation by big players. Crypto analyst Ali noted that, within a 96-hour period, whales acquired 300 million XRP tokens, characterizing the buying activity as “crazy.”

Santiment, an onchain analytics platform, observed a rise in millionaire wallets holding XRP. Over the last three months, the number of wallets holding at least $1 million in XRP increased by 32, underscoring renewed confidence among large holders.

Recent activity demonstrates that whales purchased 300 million XRP tokens within just four days, while millionaire-level XRP wallets have increased by 32 in three months, highlighting sustained interest from major investors.

This sustained whale activity coincided with increased trading momentum. From Wednesday’s low of $0.99, XRP’s price rallied to a peak of $1.245, marking a significant intraday gain. At the time of reporting, XRP had recorded a 22% daily increase to stand at $1.23, fostering optimism in the community.

MetricValueChangePrice (intraday high)$1.245+25%Current price$1.23+22% (24h)XRP open interest (Binance)$461.3 million2-month highMillionaire wallets+32 walletsPast 3 monthsSpike in activity and open interestCryptoQuant also reported that XRP open interest on Binance soared to roughly $461.3 million this week, marking a two-month high and a clear uptick in derivatives trading activity. Increased open interest often signals heightened engagement from both institutional and high-volume retail traders in the derivatives market.

Santiment pointed out that last weekend brought the highest level of XRP network activity seen in more than two months. This surge follows a recent period when network activity neared its lowest point for 2026.

Across both spot and derivatives markets, XRP has seen a strong resurgence in volume and investor participation, with metrics returning to levels not observed since earlier in the year.

Institutional-grade credit debuts on XRPLMomentum for XRP was further boosted by the introduction of institutional-grade credit to the XRP Ledger (XRPL). Cicada Partners announced the launch of a new credit initiative, leveraging infrastructure provided by Clearpool. This new pipeline is built on the XRPL Lending Protocol and the Single Asset Vault product.

Ripple, the global payments company behind the XRP Ledger, acts as a Liquidity Provider within this new credit fund, supplying capital along with other major institutional investors. The addition of these players aims to bring traditional credit opportunities and borrower pipelines directly to the XRPL ecosystem.

Mini dictionary: Cicada Partners – A financial technology firm specializing in digital credit and lending solutions for institutional markets. Clearpool – A decentralized credit marketplace that enables institutional borrowing and lending using blockchain protocols.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.

Crypto analyst Xaif recently published a video of Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse addressing a live audience at the 2026 Wyoming Blockchain Symposium, a key industry event jointly hosted in Jackson Hole by SALT and the cryptocurrency exchange Kraken. In the clip, Garlinghouse responded to a question about the company’s position on going public, noting a change in attitude that has drawn attention from the XRP investor community.

Ripple’s evolving IPO strategyDuring the session, Garlinghouse acknowledged that Ripple has long operated as a private company. He pointed out that, in the previous year, Ripple had completed $2.5 billion worth of acquisitions without relying on public financing. Additionally, over the past two years, Ripple conducted $3 billion in shareholder tender offers, providing liquidity to early backers.

Garlinghouse’s remarks suggested a shift from Ripple’s historic reluctance toward an IPO. “We have been very happily private for a long time,” he stated, but went on to clarify, “We’re more neutral on the topic than maybe we used to be.” This measured openness suggests that Ripple is no longer categorically opposed to becoming a public company.

Garlinghouse explained that while Ripple remains private, the company’s attitude toward a potential IPO has changed, noting, “We’re more neutral on the topic than maybe we used to be.”

This evolving stance did not go unnoticed by market observers such as Xaif, who highlighted that Ripple’s tone had moved from resistant to neutral, especially following recent acquisitions and major shareholder liquidity events.

Consolidation and growth strategyGarlinghouse emphasized the increasing consolidation across the cryptocurrency industry, as larger firms acquire smaller competitors during cyclical downturns. Drawing from his experience across five separate crypto market cycles, he said that Ripple’s ongoing acquisition activity positions it as a consolidator, strengthening its market presence.

Going public could offer strategic advantages for Ripple, including greater access to capital markets, a higher public profile, and expanded options for future deal-making. The significant financial groundwork laid through multi-billion-dollar acquisitions and tender offers has built a strong foundation for any potential public transition.

Mini dictionary: Shareholder tender offer, a process in which a company offers to buy back shares from existing investors, often to provide liquidity or alter ownership structure.

Potential impact for XRPFor the XRP community, a Ripple IPO would represent a major development. As XRP is used within Ripple’s payment infrastructure, broader transparency and increased institutional participation following a public offering could benefit token holders. Greater visibility and regulatory compliance bolstered by a listing may also strengthen Ripple’s case in financial markets.

The prospect of Ripple accessing public markets could lead to higher institutional access for XRP and augment Ripple’s visibility in the regulated finance sector.

Current position and future outlookRipple’s openness to a potential IPO arrives shortly after the company resolved its long-running legal dispute with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm has continued to expand through strategic acquisitions, further consolidating its position in the digital assets sector.

Garlinghouse’s latest comments do not confirm immediate plans for an IPO, but indicate Ripple’s leadership is reassessing previous resistance to going public. This shift draws considerable interest from both institutional investors and retail participants in the broader cryptocurrency market.

Ripple is a leading blockchain payments firm best known for developing cross-border settlement solutions using its digital asset, XRP.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.

TLDR Table of Contents

Ripple plans to enter the tokenized private credit market through a new institutional lending system on the XRP Ledger. RippleX is developing the lending feature with Clearpool Finance and Cicada Partners for real-world business borrowers. Loans will use Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin, while lending transactions will run directly on XRPL. The system will use the XLS-65 Single Asset Vaults and XLS-66 Lending Protocol amendments. XRP will remain necessary for transaction fees and wallet reserves, increasing its utility within the lending network. Ripple is preparing to expand XRP Ledger into institutional private credit through a new lending system built with Clearpool Finance and Cicada Partners. The plan aims to connect XRPL with a tokenized private credit market valued at above $10 billion while giving real-world businesses access to working capital across regulated institutional lending markets.

Unlike much of DeFi lending, where funds often circulate inside crypto markets, the proposed system will focus on fintech and payment companies. Borrowers will receive loans in RLUSD, Ripple’s regulated stablecoin, while XRPL will process lending activity on-chain.

Ripple Backs Native Lending Infrastructure RippleX developers plan to build the lending system directly into XRP Ledger through the XLS-65 Single Asset Vaults and XLS-66 Lending Protocol amendments. The design removes reliance on third-party smart contracts and places core lending functions inside XRPL’s base protocol.

Loan pools, issuance, repayments, and related activity will all run on XRPL. Each transaction will require XRP for network fees and wallet reserves, giving the token a direct role in the lending process as activity grows.

RLUSD Loans Target Real-World Borrowers The lending system will use RLUSD for loans to businesses seeking working capital. The stablecoin operates under New York Department of Financial Services oversight, while Bank of New York provides custody support.

Ripple will also invest in the lending fund under the same terms as other institutions. The company will not guarantee returns, and all investors will share the same rights and risks on a pari passu basis.

Validator Vote Will Decide Mainnet Launch Developers have added compliance tools designed for institutional use. These include digital participant identities and a Clawback feature that can return funds when required under set rules.

Clearpool is now testing end-to-end lending scenarios on XRPL Devnet. A Mainnet launch will depend on independent validators approving and activating the XLS-65 and XLS-66 amendments through the network’s amendment voting process.

Binance has seen the sharpest percentage drop in XRP reserves, while Upbit and Bithumb continue to hold the bulk of tracked supply.

XRP’s struggle near $1 continues even as its peers display modest gains this week. The crypto asset went down almost 10% over the past month before it rebounded significantly on Wednesday evening.

Despite the weakness, much more XRP is being withdrawn than deposited across major platforms.

Reserves Slide According to the latest analysis shared by CryptoQuant, XRP reserves across Upbit, Binance, and Bithumb have fallen by roughly 240 million from their late-May and early-June levels, as of August 19. South Korean giant Upbit held 6.40 billion XRP, down from 6.51 billion on May 30, which is a decline of about 110 million, or 1.7%.

The figures for Bithumb fell to 1.82 billion from 1.85 billion on June 2, a decrease of roughly 30 million, or 1.6%. Meanwhile, Binance recorded the largest percentage decline, with its reserves for the token dropping to 2.62 billion from 2.72 billion over the same period, which translates to a reduction of approximately 100 million XRP, or 3.7%.

Combined reserves across the three exchanges decreased from about 11.08 billion to 10.84 billion, representing a decline of roughly 2.2%. Despite the overall reduction, Upbit remains the largest holder of the crypto asset among the three exchanges. In fact, Upbit and Bithumb together hold about 8.22 billion XRP and account for nearly 76% of the reserves tracked across the three platforms.

The falling exchange reserves come as wallet activity across major exchanges turns more focused on withdrawals. As recently reported by CryptoPotato, Coinbase recorded a seven-day net wallet count of -14,300 as of August 18. The exchange accounted for 47.3% of the total absolute imbalance, its highest share since July 2024.

Binance posted a net wallet count of -3,270, while Crypto.com recorded -2,680. Both exchanges moved into negative territory on July 18, almost a week after Coinbase. Binance’s share of the overall imbalance also rose from nearly zero on July 16 to around 10%. Upbit, however, saw its share fall to about 12% from 40% in June.

You may also like: Important Ripple News and XRP Price Update: August 19 XRP Wallet Activity Turns Withdrawal-Heavy Across Exchanges: What It Means for Price? Ripple’s (XRP) $1 Breakdown Could Get Worse Before It Gets Better Whale Activity The asset’s weak price performance has not stopped large transactions from picking up on the XRP Ledger. Data shared by crypto analyst Ali Martinez revealed that transactions worth more than $1 million jumped 280% in a single day and reached nearly 40, compared with around 10 during each of the previous two days.

The spike came shortly after wallets holding between 10 million and 100 million XRP accumulated about 72 million tokens in one day.

Network activity has also picked up, as the ledger recorded nearly 50,000 active addresses over a 24-hour period last week. Despite the rise in activity, social sentiment around XRP fell to a three-month low.

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Cover image via depositphotos.com Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.

The American mutual fund Kinetics Internet Portfolio, which has $275 million in assets and is part of Kinetics Portfolios Trust, has acquired a direct equity stake in Ripple Labs Inc.

The investment was disclosed in the fund's quarterly Form NPORT-P report filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). According to the document, the fund owns Class A common shares (Class A Common Shares) issued by Ripple.

SEC Form NPORT-P filing confirming Ripple Labs equity ownership by Kinetics Portfolios Trust. Source: SEC.govThe distinctive aspect of the transaction is that the institutional investor invested directly in the company — through Ripple shares — rather than in the 

volatile XRP cryptocurrency.

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The position is estimated at approximately $150,000, making it small in size relative to a $275 million fund. The filing reflects the portfolio's holdings as of June 30, 2026, but due to regulatory reporting delays, the information became public only in August.

IPO and Washington factors: What is making funds rush to buy Ripple sharesThe fund's purchase coincided with a noticeable softening in Ripple management's rhetoric regarding a potential public listing. Speaking at the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium 2026, CEO Brad Garlinghouse said the company now takes a "more neutral" view of the idea of an IPO.

Previously, Ripple's senior management, including President Monica Long, had categorically denied having such plans, citing the company's strong balance sheet and the absence of a clear timeline.

Because Ripple Labs remains a private company, the fund acquired the securities through specialized over-the-counter pre-IPO platforms for accredited investors. The transaction comes amid Ripple's own large-scale $750 million tender offer to repurchase its shares, which valued the company at $50 billion.

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At the same time, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has opened a proposed new regulatory framework, known as "Regulation Crypto Assets," for public comment, while the U.S. administration is holding direct closed-door meetings with Ripple executives at the White House.

Against the backdrop of these regulatory changes and the confirmation of Ripple's multibillion-dollar valuation, institutional investors are rushing to gain exposure to the company through the private market rather than waiting for an official IPO.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has reinforced the company’s commitment to connecting traditional finance with blockchain at the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium, presenting Ripple as a leading bridge between established financial systems and decentralized finance.

Regulatory approach and global licensesGarlinghouse pointed to Ripple’s 75 financial licenses across various jurisdictions as evidence that regulated services and crypto can successfully coexist. He dismissed the notion that the digital asset industry has an anti-regulation stance, stressing that compliance is possible and necessary for mainstream adoption.

He highlighted a U.S. court ruling clarifying that XRP is not categorized as a security, a decision that supports Ripple’s drive for clearer regulatory distinctions in the digital asset sector. Garlinghouse stated that such legal clarity strengthens the company’s strategy and provides greater confidence for institutional partners.

Garlinghouse emphasized that regulated financial services and crypto are not mutually exclusive and that Ripple’s global licensing demonstrates the possibility of compliance-focused innovation within blockchain technology.

Acquisitions and institutional expansionRipple’s acquisition strategy has gained momentum, with the firm completing $2.5 billion in acquisitions last year, and an additional $3 billion in shareholder tender offers over the past two years. Garlinghouse views these moves as a foundation for larger deals and further market consolidation during ongoing downturns.

Two standout acquisitions have expanded Ripple’s influence. Hidden Road, a prime brokerage service provider, processed $3 trillion in transactions over the past year, while GTreasury, a treasury and risk management software firm, handled approximately $13 trillion. Together, these two companies expose Ripple to about $16 trillion in annual financial activity.

Mini dictionary: GTreasury is a software platform that provides treasury management and risk solutions to corporate finance teams, while Hidden Road is a financial services provider specializing in prime brokerage for institutional clients.

AcquisitionAnnual Transactions ProcessedHidden Road$3 trillionGTreasury$13 trillionTotal Exposure$16 trillionAccording to Garlinghouse, this expansion has brought a marked shift over the past six months, with more corporate chief financial officers and treasurers seeking Ripple’s blockchain technology for their operations.

Future of institutional crypto adoptionHe expects Ripple’s revenue to more than double year over year, projecting a record-setting performance for the company. Garlinghouse attributes this growth to increasing institutional interest in applications such as payments, liquidity solutions, settlements, custody, and treasury management, rather than pure trading.

He noted that this rising interest marks a significant shift in how large organizations are exploring practical uses of crypto, increasingly prioritizing operational improvements over speculative activity.

Institutions are moving beyond trading, focusing on blockchain for payments, liquidity management, and settlement needs, strengthening the argument for integrating blockchain within the existing financial system rather than replacing banks outright.

Garlinghouse remains measured regarding agent-driven payments—transactions executed autonomously by artificial intelligence agents. He acknowledged the potential for AI-enabled services but emphasized that robust controls around authorization, fraud prevention, accountability, and spending limits must be in place before widespread adoption.

Ripple’s approach aligns with the idea of working alongside banks and traditional institutions, leveraging blockchain to enhance, not supplant, conventional financial infrastructures.

Garlinghouse projected that as the finance industry continues evolving, the convergence of traditional and decentralized finance will accelerate, positioning Ripple as a core facilitator in this transformation.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.

The XRP ecosystem has recorded over $4 billion in stablecoin transfer volume amid a recent surge despite current price struggles.

XRP has continued to face market pressures, with the token down 45.47% this year. However, the weakness in price performance has not stopped activity across the XRP ecosystem from growing.

XRP Ecosystem Sees Rise in Stablecoin Volume and Holders Data on real-world asset (RWA) tokenization shows that stablecoin activity on the XRP Ledger has picked up, with transfer volume and the number of stablecoin holders both recording strong gains.

According to RWA.xyz, a leading provider of real-world asset data, 30-day stablecoin transfer volume on the XRP Ledger has increased 10% to $4.32 billion. 

XRP Ledger Stablecoin Market Activity The rise indicates stronger stablecoin activity on the network and suggests that users continue to make greater use of the XRPL ecosystem despite XRP’s poor price performance.

In addition, over the past 30 days, the number of stablecoin holders on the XRP Ledger has jumped 36.7% to 82,110. The XRP Ledger Foundation recently highlighted the figure in a post on X, citing data from the RWA Foundation.

XRP Ledger Stablecoin Market Cap Drops Despite the rise in transfer activity and holders, the total value of stablecoins on the XRP Ledger has declined slightly over the past month. The XRP Ledger stablecoin market cap fell 3.07% over the last 30 days to $954.79 million.

Still, the monthly decline looks less significant when compared with the network’s growth since January. The XRP Ledger began the year with a stablecoin market cap of $291.4 million. At $954.79 million, the current market cap represents a 227% increase this year.

Ripple’s RLUSD remains the dominant stablecoin on the XRP Ledger. It currently has an $898.8 million market cap, which gives it a 94% share of the network’s total stablecoin market cap.

RLUSD also represents 62.41% of the total distributed RWA market on the XRP Ledger. Its large share means that much of the network’s stablecoin growth currently centers on Ripple’s dollar-pegged asset. As a result, changes in RLUSD’s supply and activity can have a noticeable effect on the wider XRPL stablecoin market.

Broader RWA Market Sees Mixed Activity Meanwhile, the wider RWA market on the XRP Ledger has produced a less consistent picture over the past 30 days. While the number of holders has continued to rise, the value of some RWA assets and their transfer activity has declined.

Specifically, distributed asset value, excluding stablecoins, dropped 1.90% over the last 30 days to $485.25 million. Also, represented asset value fell 0.30% to $4.05 billion. 

The biggest drop came from RWA transfer activity. Notably, RWA transfer volume plunged 96.25% over the past 30 days to $10.14 million.

Despite the drop in RWA transfer volume, the number of RWA holders has continued to grow in recent times. For context, RWA holders on the XRP Ledger increased 27% over the past 30 days to 221.

This suggests that more participants now hold RWA assets on the XRP Ledger, but they have not generated the same level of transfer activity seen previously. Essentially, market participation is growing, but trading or movement of these assets has slowed.

DisClamier: This content is informational and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author's personal opinions and do not reflect The Crypto Basic opinion. Readers are encouraged to do thorough research before making any investment decisions. The Crypto Basic is not responsible for any financial losses.

Cover image via U.Today Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.

TL;DR:

A heavy long-side imbalance in the futures market threatens cascading liquidations of $4.36 billion if Bitcoin drops to the $57,200 level.XRP retains its psychological support at $1.0052 (+0.42%) as whale wallets absorbed over 642 million tokens from August 1 to 18.The new SEC reform exempts eligible token projects from registration for raises up to $75 million annually, transforming US crypto fundraising rules.The cryptocurrency market is stabilizing on the morning of Aug. 19 after a difficult week, while the leading digital assets are simultaneously being squeezed into narrow ranges. Institutional capital in the U.S. has abruptly shifted back toward accumulation following the massive downturn from Aug. 10 to Aug. 14, when net outflows from crypto funds reached a record $389.7 million.

The Aug. 18 trading session ended with a powerful comeback: spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted $189.31 million in a single day, while Ethereum ETFs recorded $71.47 million in net inflows. Against this backdrop, U.S. spot XRP ETFs are still showing modest volumes, with $5.81 million in net inflows yesterday, according to SoSoValue.

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XRP and Bitcoin price performance on a mid- (12h) and short-term (4h) time frames, Source: TradingViewTradingView price charts are currently showing complete calm and tight consolidation. Bitcoin (BTC) is pressing at $65,000 on Bitstamp's 12-hour chart, while XRP/USD is moving in sync with the market leader with a gain of 1.23%.

XRP is firmly holding its crucial psychological and technical support level at $1.0052. This stability is being driven not by retail traders but by an aggressive on-chain strategy among major players, who are buying every local dip.

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Institutional whale accumulation was triggered by a powerful fundamental catalyst from Washington. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) published a historic proposal to simplify token registration, which has already been linked to the Senate's upcoming vote on the CLARITY Act.

XRP news: Whales buy 642 million tokens as Ripple Prime debuts bond offeringLarge XRP holders have collectively acquired more than 642 million tokens near the psychological $1 level since the beginning of August. During the first week of the month alone, wallets holding between 1 million and 10 million XRP accumulated 380 million coins, increasing their combined holdings to 8.13 billion tokens.

Buying continued in the middle of the month. Investors added another 72 million XRP to their positions on Aug. 13–14 and absorbed an additional 190 million tokens on Aug. 16–17. Against this backdrop, the number of large XRPL transactions worth more than $1 million jumped 280% on Aug. 17–18, exceeding 38 transactions per day amid an influx of active addresses.

Alongside this on-chain activity, Ripple Prime, the company's brokerage subsidiary, completed its debut private placement of $275 million in unsecured bonds due in 2031. The debt securities carry an 8.25% coupon and received a BBB investment-grade rating from KBRA, while investment bank Piper Sandler served as the lead underwriter.

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Including the May agreement, Ripple's total debt financing raised over the past three months has reached $475 million through the infrastructure of Hidden Road, which the company acquired in 2025 for $1.25 billion. Ripple has also expanded its payments presence in Asia by partnering with South Korea's Jeonbuk Bank to introduce instant settlements through Ripple Payments.

In the on-chain sector, Ripple's native dollar-backed stablecoin, RLUSD, demonstrated unusual dynamics. A recent $35.7 million token burn pushed the monthly burn rate on the XRPL to 99%. Over the past 30 days, $449.3 million worth of RLUSD was issued on the network, but immediate institutional redemptions resulted in $448.9 million worth of tokens being burned.

Unlike the XRPL's transit corridor, Ethereum is retaining liquidity. Of the $403 million issued on Ethereum, only $177.3 million was burned, leaving the total RLUSD supply of $1.757 billion divided almost equally between the two blockchains.

The intense token accumulation by whales, combined with Ripple's simultaneous effort to raise hundreds of millions of dollars in debt, signals that major players are not currently planning speculative sales near the $1 level.

Crypto market news: SEC reform and Bitcoin liquidation risksYesterday, the New York Federal Reserve purchased short-term Treasury bills up to its full $4.243 billion allotment. The move fits into a monthly reinvestment schedule of approximately $17 billion aimed at supporting bank reserves and reducing liquidity shortages.

The monetary injection coincided with a sudden reversal in sentiment across the U.S. spot crypto fund sector. In a single trading session on Aug. 18, the funds fully offset the prolonged outflows recorded last week, when investors withdrew a record $389.7 million.

At the same time, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission published two new fundraising tracks. The new rules introduce the following exemptions:

Fundraising limit: Eligible token issuers would be exempt from strict registration requirements when raising up to $75 million per year.Safe harbor: Assets would automatically lose their status as securities once developers complete the required technological milestones.Insider freedom: The mandatory token lockup period would be completely removed once all other restrictions are lifted. You Might Also Like

Against this backdrop, the U.S. Senate scheduled a procedural vote on the CLARITY Act for Sept. 15. This round does not guarantee the bill's final passage because of unresolved issues involving staking rewards and potential crypto-related conflicts of interest at the highest levels of government.

Meanwhile, the overall probability of the CLARITY Act being signed into law by the end of 2026 has dropped to 20%. Just a few months ago, markets estimated the chances of the historic legislation taking effect at more than 80%.

Despite the legal uncertainty, analysts at investment firm VanEck believe Bitcoin's prolonged correction is nearing its end. Eight of the 12 key indicators point to the market's final capitulation, while all 12 metrics have entered this zone at some point during the past three months.

Bitcoin Capitulation Check, Source: VanEck / ArtemisThe current decline has now continued for 10 months, compared with the historical duration of a bear phase of 11–13 months. VanEck analysts identify the period from September through November as the window for a transition toward full-scale accumulation.

While the spot market is consolidating, hidden risks are building in the futures market because of a critical imbalance in favor of long positions. According to the CoinGlass liquidation heat map, a sudden market decline would trigger cascading liquidations:

Bitcoin: If BTC falls to approximately $57,200, forced liquidations of long positions would exceed $4.36 billion.Ethereum: If ETH falls to approximately $1,715, forced liquidations of long positions would exceed $2.97 billion. You Might Also Like

Ripple closed a $275 million senior notes offering Tuesday through its prime brokerage arm as XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) claws back above $1.

What the $275 Million Offering CoversAccording to a Ripple press release, the private placement of senior unsecured notes through Ripple Prime, its non-bank prime brokerage, attracted a diverse base of institutional investors. 

The offering received an investment grade BBB rating from KBRA and was upsized from its original target. 

Proceeds go toward working capital and general corporate purposes as client demand grows for multi-asset clearing, prime brokerage, and financing services.

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Ripple Prime President Noel Kimmel noted in the release that the strong support for the inaugural offering reflects confidence in Ripple’s long-term vision for the intersection of traditional and digital asset financial infrastructure.

Why Korea Keeps Coming Up for RippleRipple also confirmed Tuesday that Jeonbuk Bank has deployed Ripple Payments for cross-border settlement, becoming the first Korean regional bank to do so. 

As Benzinga reported earlier, this marks Ripple’s third Korean institutional partnership in 2026, following Kyobo Life Insurance on on-chain bond settlement and Kbank on wallet infrastructure and custody.

What the On-Chain Data ShowsCryptoQuant flagged on X that XRP open interest on Binance hit a two-month high, with analyst ArabxChain noting the rise in derivatives participation makes the next price move more significant in either direction.

Meanwhile, analyst ChartNerd noted on X that XRP’s monthly RSI sits at its most oversold level in 13 years. 

The three-month RSI has not yet tagged its historical bottom baseline of 48, suggesting the full reset is close but not complete.

Where XRP Stands TechnicallyXRP holds back above $1 Tuesday, after repeated tests this week. More importantly, price now presses directly into the descending trendline from the May high at $1.55, the same line that has capped every rally since. 

A daily close above $1.03 would mark the first genuine break of this downtrend.

Photo via Shutterstock

© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

20h05 ▪ 6 min read ▪ by Luc Jose A.

Summarize this article with:

XRP is approaching a deadline that could put its market under pressure. A new unlocking wave scheduled by Ripple is set to release a massive amount of tokens, while the price is already trading around a sensitive technical level. Behind the spectacular figure of this operation lies a more nuanced reality. Not all unlocked XRP necessarily join the market. Between genuinely available supply, risk of selling pressure, and price fragility, the coming weeks could become decisive for XRP.

In Brief Ripple plans to unlock 1 billion XRP on September 1st. 600 to 800 million XRP are expected to be re-locked, limiting the supply actually injected. 200 to 400 million XRP could enter the market to fund Ripple’s activities and ecosystem. XRP trades around the sensitive $1 threshold, in a fragile technical setup. The Background of a Massive Asset Unlocking by Ripple As September 1st approaches, the American company Ripple prepares to execute a contractual routine established since the end of 2017: the monthly unlocking of one billion XRP tokens freed from its escrow accounts. The company had strategically chosen at the time to isolate 55 billion XRP in fixed-term contracts to bring predictability to the management of its reserves.

At the current price hovering around one dollar per token, this operation represents the theoretical equivalent of one billion dollars injected into the market. However, interpreting these figures does not reflect the operational reality observed on the blockchain. Transaction history shows that the firm systematically re-locks between 600 million and 800 million XRP in new time-lock contracts. Consequently, the actual increase in circulating supply each month is only within the range of 200 million to 400 million XRP.

These resources genuinely integrated into the market are also not intended to be wildly sold on exchange order books. Ripple reinjects those 200 to 400 million dollars of assets to support its overall operational infrastructure, feed its On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) service, seal institutional partnerships, and fund ecosystem development initiatives. Relative to the global crypto market, this net monthly contribution remains relatively modest.

In comparison, XRP’s daily transaction volume very frequently exceeds the one billion dollar mark on major international exchanges. The highly predictable and planned nature of these issuances historically limits their direct impact on prices. While brief periods of volatility sometimes occur at the unlocking, the market generally tends to stabilize once the amounts re-locked under escrow are confirmed, as institutional investors have factored in this parameter for several years.

To better understand the real functioning of this recurring financial operation, its key characteristics should be summarized as follows :

The nominal unlocked volume : 1 billion XRP released on September 1st from the initial escrow contracts of 55 billion dating from 2017 ; The re-escrow locking : 600 million to 800 million XRP immediately locked again in new forward contracts ; The real net injection : 200 million to 400 million XRP effectively put into circulation, equivalent to a net value of 200 to 400 million dollars ; Allocation of funds : financing On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) services, institutional partnerships, and ecosystem development ; Liquidity context : a net contribution absorbed by a daily XRP trading volume greater than 1 billion dollars on crypto exchanges. The Technical Fragility of XRP Facing Support Tests The real concern of analysts lies not so much in the schedule but in the delicate technical configuration in which Ripple’s crypto finds itself at the time of this release. The token slips below its major $1 support, trading at $0.99 with a 0.3% decline over the last 24 hours and a cumulative drop of more than 1% on the weekly scale.

This passage below the psychological dollar mark is accompanied by concerning weakness signals from a trend-following perspective. The crypto’s price now moves below its simple 50-day moving average, set at $1.07, confirming short-term dominance of bearish pressure. Moreover, the gap separating it from its 200-day simple moving average, located at $1.28, highlights the deterioration of the underlying longer-term momentum.

From a momentum indicator standpoint, the 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands at 37.83. Although the crypto remains formally in the neutral zone, this level dangerously flirts with the critical threshold of 30, marking the oversold boundary. This configuration indicates persistent selling pressure, though not yet extreme. If the slide continues, the asset risks sinking further into an oversold zone, while a rebound of the RSI above 50 would be necessary to hope for a return of bullish momentum.

Future Challenges for the Crypto’s Trajectory Between Ripple’s accounting management and the graphic realities of its token, the challenge for the next two weeks promises to be decisive for investor confidence. Although experience shows that the absorption of the net supply of 200 to 400 million XRP usually occurs without major shocks thanks to large trading volumes, the current fragility of technical support could increase investor nervousness.

The market thus faces a complex trade-off between the theoretical neutrality of a programmed mechanism and the psychology of actors reluctant to accumulate an asset below its main moving averages. In this context, where short- and medium-term trends remain bearish, buyers’ ability to defend the $0.99 zone and quickly push the XRP price back towards the 50 SMA at $1.07 will be decisive. Failure to regain these key levels could anchor the token in a prolonged stagnation phase, turning calendar regularity into an additional catalyst of uncertainty.

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Luc Jose A.

Diplômé de Sciences Po Toulouse et titulaire d'une certification consultant blockchain délivrée par Alyra, j'ai rejoint l'aventure Cointribune en 2019. Convaincu du potentiel de la blockchain pour transformer de nombreux secteurs de l'économie, j'ai pris l'engagement de sensibiliser et d'informer le grand public sur cet écosystème en constante évolution. Mon objectif est de permettre à chacun de mieux comprendre la blockchain et de saisir les opportunités qu'elle offre. Je m'efforce chaque jour de fournir une analyse objective de l'actualité, de décrypter les tendances du marché, de relayer les dernières innovations technologiques et de mettre en perspective les enjeux économiques et sociétaux de cette révolution en marche.

DISCLAIMER

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.

XRP continues to face bearish pressure, with recent analyst commentary highlighting a potential accumulation zone as the cryptocurrency looks for direction. Institutional activity, particularly from Strive Financial Group, is bringing additional attention to XRP-linked exchange-traded funds, which could have lasting effects on the asset’s adoption narrative.

XRP price outlook and analyst predictionsAt press time, XRP is trading at $0.99. The 24-hour trading volume has reached $855 million, while the market capitalization stands at $62.68 billion. Despite signs of price stability in the last day, both XRP’s technical structure and the expansion of related ETFs could support a stronger move in the future.

Crypto analyst Crypto Patel has highlighted that the recent decline in XRP price serves as a warning echoed during the 2025 rally, when he cautioned investors as bullish momentum weakened above $3.

Following this warning, XRP experienced a steep correction, losing approximately 73% from its cycle peak and falling below $1 for the first time in nearly two years. The move below this psychological threshold has raised concerns about the underlying market structure.

Crypto Patel has identified the $0.85 to $0.65 range as a strategic accumulation point. He stated that a reversal is unlikely before another 20% to 40% decline in price, suggesting patience for long-term accumulation targets. Crypto Patel favors gradual accumulation near higher time frame demand zones instead of attempting to call the exact market bottom. His price targets remain $3, $5, $7, and $10 in future major rallies.

XRP’s drop of nearly 73% from its cycle top has brought the price below $1 for the first time in almost two years, creating substantial challenges for its market structure. The $0.85–$0.65 region could offer a meaningful accumulation opportunity, although a significant rebound may require a further pullback.

Institutional exposure to XRP ETFsData provided by BankXRP reveals that Strive Financial Group has publicly disclosed its exposure to XRP-based ETFs in an updated 13F regulatory filing. The filing lists investments in the Teucrium 2x Long Daily XRP ETF as well as the XRP ETF offered by Canary.

Strive Financial Group is a US-based asset management firm known for its engagement with alternative investment vehicles and emerging financial products.

This increased activity from Strive highlights the broader trend of institutions gaining exposure to regulated XRP products. While the 13F filing confirms holdings during the reporting period, it does not guarantee current positions or indicate a bullish stance. However, such disclosures do reflect growing interest in regulated digital asset instruments.

Industry commentators note that the presence of institutional players like Strive may help support long-term adoption, even if immediate market impact remains uncertain.

Mini dictionary: 13F filing, a quarterly report required by the US Securities and Exchange Commission for certain institutional investment managers, disclosing their equity holdings.

As investors monitor these developments, the next significant price move for XRP will likely hinge on buyers’ ability to maintain key support levels. If selling pressure dominates, XRP could see further losses. On the other hand, a reversal and subsequent breakout may set the stage for a move toward previously mentioned price targets.

Price LevelAnalyst PerspectiveMarket Cap24h Volume$0.99Current price, neutral zone$62.68 billion$855 million$0.85–$0.65Identified accumulation range––$3 / $5 / $7 / $10Long-term price targets––Market conditions and future outlookDespite optimism from institutional moves and ETF developments, XRP remains within a neutral trading range. While the broader cryptocurrency market has shown signs of improvement, analysts expect that only a firm shift in trend or a successful defense of critical support levels can prompt a sustainable rally in XRP.

Should buyer interest intensify at current levels, the cryptocurrency could consolidate and attempt higher moves. Otherwise, a lack of support could result in additional downward momentum, keeping the asset in a cautious stance.

Broader institutional interest in XRP-linked ETFs may lay the groundwork for future adoption, but a decisive turnaround in price action is necessary before a sustained rally can be expected.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.

XRP traded slightly below $1 on Tuesday, Aug. 18, as rising whale transactions and derivatives activity failed to produce a sustained price recovery.

Summary

XRP traded near $0.996 Tuesday, losing 0.4% daily and 1.2% over seven days overall recently. Price remained below $1, leaving the former support level as immediate resistance for recovering buyers. Large XRP Ledger transactions above $1 million reportedly increased 280%, but transfer direction remains unclear. Binance open interest increased while spot price weakened, raising liquidation risks without confirming market direction. The tx bridge remains halted after attackers stole 198,715.88 XRP through faulty deposit verification software. The token changed hands near $0.996, down 0.4% over 24 hours and 1.2% over seven days, according to market data. XRP’s market capitalization stood near $62.4 billion, ranking it sixth among cryptocurrencies.

XRP traded between approximately $0.989 and $1.01 during the latest 24 hour period. It remained 9.1% lower over 30 days and about 66.7% below its level one year earlier.

The token briefly recovered above $1 on Monday after opening near $0.994. However, buyers failed to maintain the rebound, returning the price below the psychological threshold on Tuesday.

XRP price remains fragile below $1 The XRP/USDT daily chart shows a broader downtrend from the July 2025 high of $3.65. The decline has produced lower highs and pushed XRP into a narrow consolidation range around $1.

The $1 level has acted as support for much of the decline. Trading below it changes the immediate structure because recovering buyers must now reclaim the same level before challenging higher resistance.

An initial recovery would need to clear $1 to $1.05. Above that area, liquidity may sit between $1.16 and $1.18, although reaching those levels would require stronger volume and momentum.

Immediate support sits around $0.988, matching Tuesday’s intraday low. A daily close below that level would expose $0.95, followed by the wider area between $0.85 and $0.90.

The price recently steadied near $1 while large transfers to Binance declined. That reduction in exchange inflows did not produce a confirmed reversal.

Whale transactions rise without confirming accumulation Crypto analyst Ali Martinez reported that XRP Ledger transactions worth more than $1 million increased 280% within 24 hours. The total reportedly rose above 38 large transactions.

Martinez described the activity as evidence that “whales are back.” However, transaction counts alone do not establish whether large holders are buying, selling or moving tokens between wallets.

Large transactions can include exchange deposits, withdrawals, internal transfers and custody reorganizations. Identifying accumulation requires destination analysis, balance changes and exchange flow data.

The price remained below $1 during the transaction increase. That lack of an immediate price response weakens any claim that the activity was entirely driven by buying.

Separate CryptoQuant data showed that whale transfers to Binance had fallen to their lowest level since 2021. The three month average reportedly declined to approximately $61 million.

Lower exchange inflows can reduce potential selling pressure, but they do not guarantee demand. Tokens may also move through exchanges or addresses not covered by the dataset.

Exchange withdrawals and leverage send mixed signals CryptoQuant contributor Amr Taha reported that Coinbase’s seven day net wallet count fell to minus 14,300 on Aug. 17. Binance and Crypto.com also recorded more withdrawing wallets than depositing wallets.

The figures measure wallet counts rather than the amount of XRP withdrawn. One large deposit can outweigh many small withdrawals, making the indicator unsuitable as a direct measure of net token flows.

Coinbase reportedly represented 47.3% of the absolute wallet imbalance across the exchanges tracked by the analyst. That share shows where the activity was concentrated but does not reveal whether the withdrawn tokens entered self custody or another trading venue.

XRP derivatives activity also increased. CryptoQuant analysis showed Binance open interest rising about 28.6% between Aug. 3 and Aug. 17.

Open interest measures outstanding derivatives positions and does not distinguish longs from shorts. Rising leverage while the spot price remains weak can increase the size of liquidations when the market eventually breaks from its range.

In related coverage, derivatives positioning rebuilt while aggressive selling remained dominant. Funding rates, cumulative volume delta and long to short ratios remain necessary for assessing directional positioning.

Technical indicators remain bearish The Awesome Oscillator stood near minus 0.0630 on the daily chart. The negative reading shows bearish momentum remains active, although it is less extreme than during previous stages of the selloff.

The bull and bear power indicator was also negative at approximately minus 0.0377. This points to limited buying pressure and supports the current bearish consolidation structure.

XRP price chart, source: crypto.news Neither indicator confirms that XRP has reached a bottom. Momentum could improve if the price reclaims $1 and the oscillator moves toward positive territory.

Claims of targets between $15 and $17 would require gains exceeding 1,400% from the current price. Such forecasts remain speculative and are not supported by the present daily momentum readings.

The same applies to forecasts calling for a decline into the $0.65 to $0.85 range. Those levels are possible technical scenarios rather than confirmed destinations.

Bridge remains halted following verification exploit The tx project said attackers stole 198,715.88 XRP from its bridge reserve on Aug. 9. The bridge connected the tx blockchain with the XRP Ledger.

According to the project’s update, its software accepted transactions that had not delivered XRP to the correct bridge address. Relayers then approved unbacked balances that attackers redeemed for genuine XRP.

The vulnerability affected the bridge’s verification logic, not the XRP Ledger itself. The bridge remains halted while the team reviews remedies and security changes.

As crypto.news reported, the stolen XRP was converted and routed through privacy infrastructure, complicating recovery efforts. The project also filed a complaint with the FBI.

Separately, a South Korean regional bank adopted Ripple’s payments service on Aug. 18. The announcement did not say XRP would be used for those transfers, so the agreement should not be treated as direct demand for the token.

XRP must reclaim $1 on a daily closing basis to reduce immediate downside pressure. A break above $1.05 would improve the short term setup, while another rejection could return attention to $0.95 and $0.90.

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

Bank of America (BofA) has expanded its exposure to Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana through exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The Wall Street giant also trimmed its holdings in Strategy (MSTR), American Bitcoin Corp (ABTC), and other crypto stocks.

Bank of America Holds Almost $94 Million in Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP ETFs The Wall Street giant, with a $1.55 trillion investment portfolio, has increased its investments in multiple crypto ETFs in Q2 2026, according to a 13F filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Bank of America holds $94 million in net exposure in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP ETFs.

Bank of America raised its holdings in BlackRock Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) by 77% in the quarter. It now holds over 1.72 million IBIT shares, up from 972,590 shares earlier.

It also has investments of more than $10 million in Bitwise’s BITB, $2.24 million in Grayscale Bitcoin Mini ETF, and $1.32 million in FBTC. The bank also holds exposure to GBTC, VanEck’s HODL, and Direxion Daily Bitcoin Bull 2X ETF (BTCU).

Moreover, Bank of America (BofA) has also expanded its BlackRock Ethereum ETF (ETHA) exposure by 2,838%. It now holds 1.98 million shares in ETHA, up from 67,492 shares.

In addition, Bank of America increased its XRP ETF holdings slightly in Q2, after keeping exposure the same as in the last quarter. The Wall Street giant holds 13,260 shares of the Volatility Shares XRP ETF (XRPI).

In contrast, the bank has sold the remaining 10,296 shares of Volatility Shares Solana ETF from its investment portfolio. It has fully exited Solana ETFs after selling 700 Volatility Shares 2x Solana ETF shares last quarter.

These holdings align with broader trends as many institutions build positions in spot crypto products. Notably, JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley revealed XRP holdings via ETFs amid tradFi’s push into tokenization, treasury management, and real-time payments.

Bank Trims Strategy (MSTR) Stock Exposure Bank of America (BofA) also revealed 1.17 million MSTR stock holdings worth almost $102 million, down 70% from 3.96 million stocks. BofA trimmed MSTR exposure as the largest corporate Bitcoin treasury started selling BTC holdings to pay dividends and build cash reserves.

The Wall Street giant also sold 3,800 Strike (STRK) perpetual preferred shares. The bank even adjusted positions in Strategy convertible senior notes.

The bank sold all 85,508 shares in Trump family’s American Bitcoin Corp (ABTC), while increasing Bitmine Immersion (BMNR) stock holdings by 78% to almost $22 million. It also increased stock holdings in Hyperliquid Strategies Inc (PURR) by 167% to 635,407 shares.

Bank of America has also invested in Circle, Coinbase, and Bitcoin mining crypto companies including MARA Holdings, Riot Platforms, and CleanSpark shares.

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Binance has launched an $800,000 XRP reward campaign for eligible RLUSD holders, creating another incentive to use Ripple’s stablecoin on the exchange. At the same time, XRP Ledger activity has picked up, with Santiment recording its highest daily active-address count in more than two months.

How the RLUSD XRP Rewards WorkBinance’s campaign ran from July 17 through August 14, with XRP rewards distributed every Friday. Users needed to maintain at least 0.01 RLUSD in eligible Binance Earn or Margin accounts and record at least $500 in average daily Margin or Futures trading volume.

RLUSD held in Flexible Savings, or used as collateral in Cross Margin, Isolated Margin or Portfolio Margin accounts, could qualify. Users also had to complete KYC and live in an eligible jurisdiction.

The reward calculation used the lowest RLUSD balance recorded through hourly snapshots each day. Binance then applied the weekly effective APR to the seven-day average qualifying balance.

XRP Rewards Fell as the Campaign ProgressedThe headline reward pool was $800,000 worth of XRP, divided across four weekly distributions. The effective APR changed considerably during the campaign:

July 24: 22.25%July 31: 8.22%August 7: 8.08%August 14: 7.69%This decline shows why the headline APR should not be treated as a fixed return. Binance states that the rate can change each week depending on qualifying balances and other campaign factors.

RLUSD obtained through borrowing also faced restrictions. Binance applied a 60% haircut to the leveraged portion, while borrowed RLUSD recorded as a liability did not count toward the qualifying balance.

XRP Ledger Activity Sends a Different SignalWhile XRP sentiment has weakened, blockchain activity has moved in the opposite direction. Santiment reported 49,929 active XRP addresses within 24 hours, the highest level in more than two months.

😠 XRP negativity surged throughout this week as prices have failed to rally (so far). Crowd commentary is now at a 3-month bearish extreme across X, Reddit, Telegram, and other crypto channels.

⚡ The XRP Ledger, on the other hand, is not so quiet. $XRP just saw 49,929 active… pic.twitter.com/CmXxOHSYt0

— Santiment Intelligence (@SantimentData) August 14, 2026 The increase comes after XRP market value fell below $1, with retail commentary reaching a three-month bearish extreme across social platforms, according to Santiment.

This creates an interesting contrast, while market sentiment is weak, participation on the XRP Ledger is rising.

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XRP’s price has been under pressure after a recent correction brought it down to a multi-year low of $0.98. Despite this, the derivatives market for XRP on Binance has displayed a notable increase in trading activity.

Latest analytics from CryptoQuant, a leading blockchain data provider, indicated that open interest (OI) in XRP futures on Binance rose sharply in August. Figures show that OI reached $232.7 million on August 17, up from $181 million on August 3. This 28.6% increase pushed XRP’s futures OI to its highest point since June 2026.

Rising open interest generally indicates an influx of new capital and positions in the market. However, the report highlighted that this heightened activity emerged during a period marked by increased volatility and continued price declines for XRP.

An analyst from CryptoQuant observed that the majority of the surge stemmed from intensified bearish positions by traders, rather than fresh bullish momentum. This interpretation is based on several on-chain indicators tracked during the same period.

Market data points to continued sellingThe analytics further tracked XRP’s seven-day open interest trend. Open interest shifted from a decrease of $40 million on July 29 to a gain of $38.9 million by August 17. This swing, according to the report, demonstrates that many traders opened new positions in August, with both bullish and bearish strategies in play.

While open interest rose, Binance’s Perpetual Cumulative Volume Delta (CVD)—which summarizes net buying and selling activity—showed persistent selling pressure, falling to -$463.2 million. This metric provided clearer insight into market sentiment, revealing that aggressive sell-side orders have outweighed buying even as OI climbed.

The combination of a jump in open interest and falling CVD presents mixed signals for XRP. The rising OI might typically suggest renewed interest, yet the dominance of bearish bets paints a less optimistic picture for the short term.

CryptoQuant is a South Korea-based blockchain analytics provider offering real-time data on flow, activity, and sentiment across major cryptocurrencies and exchanges.

Mini dictionary: Open Interest (OI), the total value of outstanding futures or options contracts that have not been settled. Higher OI reflects increased participation and can indicate market sentiment.

XRP open interest on Binance soared from $181 million to $232.7 million between August 3 and August 17, as bearish positions dominated trade and sell-side pressure continued to build.

DateXRP Open Interest (Binance)Cumulative Volume Delta (Binance Perpetual)July 29~$181 million–August 3$181 million–August 17$232.7 million-$463.2 millionDespite hopes for a price recovery, most new trades in $XRP derivatives on Binance have focused on selling, signaling ongoing caution among market participants.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.

An unnamed XRP Ledger startup being developed by former Ripple staffer Bias Goose will use RLUSD as a primary financial rail, according to a series of public posts published since Aug. 8. 

Summary

RLUSD will underpin the unnamed XRP Ledger startup, according to former Ripple staffer Bias Goose. Bias Goose says the project will avoid issuing its own token or using artificial incentives. Bias Goose first teased the unnamed XRP Ledger startup on August 8, targeting roughly September. Ripple reported nearly $1.6 billion of RLUSD circulating on August 6 against larger reserve assets. Project claims of yields above Treasury rates remain unverified until economic details and partners emerge. His latest Aug. 16 post said, “We will make RLUSD great again,” but disclosed no project name, partners or detailed product structure. Bias Goose previously worked in developer growth at Ripple and now works in marketing at Walrus Protocol.

The public disclosures remain narrower than some descriptions of the project suggest. Bias Goose has said the startup involves companies from a sector that has traditionally been resistant to blockchain and intends to generate “real yield” without its own token or artificial incentives. Those economic claims cannot yet be independently tested because the underlying businesses and revenue model remain undisclosed.

RLUSD is confirmed, but the startup remains unnamed Bias Goose first said on Aug. 8 that the XRP Ledger would get a new startup “in just about a month.” That points broadly to September rather than establishing a firm launch date. No exact date was included in that announcement.

We will make RLUSD great again

— Bias Goose 🇺🇸 (@BiasGoose) August 16, 2026 Two days later, he said the team had formed partnerships with a “rather closed off sector” and planned to bring participants from that industry onchain. He also said the model would use RLUSD rails, involve XRP later and feature “no incentives, no tokens.” These remain statements from the project’s creator rather than independently confirmed partner announcements.

Yield claims remain the biggest unanswered question The commercial pitch centers on returns generated by real-world activity rather than token emissions. Reports have attributed expectations of returns above U.S. Treasury yields to the project, but no underlying assets, borrowers, contractual cash flows or audited performance figures have been released. Those return claims should therefore be treated as forward-looking and unverified.

RLUSD itself does not automatically produce those returns. Ripple describes the stablecoin as a dollar-backed asset designed for payments, settlements, treasury management and onchain finance. Any yield offered through the startup would need to originate from another asset, strategy or commercial activity layered around RLUSD.

RLUSD already has a growing institutional footprint Ripple’s latest transparency report showed $1.5896 billion of RLUSD circulating against $1.7026 billion in reserve funds as of Aug. 6. Standard Custody & Trust Company, the issuer, is supervised by the New York Department of Financial Services, while Ripple publishes monthly third-party attestations covering supply and reserves.

RLUSD has also expanded internationally. Ripple and SBI launched the stablecoin in Japan in June following regulatory approval there. As crypto.news previously reported, RLUSD trading had driven more than $2.5 billion through XRP Ledger pairs by late June, giving new XRPL applications a deeper dollar-liquidity base than existed when RLUSD launched.

What happens next The next verifiable milestone is a fuller project reveal. Bias Goose’s Aug. 8 timeline points to roughly early September, but no firm launch date has been announced. Claims about counterparties, expected returns, legal structure or a possible Walrus integration remain unconfirmed until the project or its partners publish supporting details.

There is also no announced project token. Bias Goose has explicitly said the model will use “no incentives, no tokens” while operating on RLUSD rails. If that remains the structure, the main questions will be how RLUSD enters the system, what activity produces the proposed returns, how risks are managed and whether XRP gains a role beyond serving as the XRP Ledger’s native asset.

Jane Street Group, a leading global trading firm based in the United States, revealed significant exposure to multiple XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) products in its second quarter 2026 13F filing, including more than 1.2 million shares of the Bitwise XRP ETF valued at $14.05 million. The document, widely circulated among cryptocurrency analysts, also lists call positions and smaller spot entries.

Jane Street expands XRP ETF activityThe 13F filing details Jane Street’s positions across several major XRP ETF issuers, including Bitwise, Franklin Templeton, Grayscale, Canary, and 21Shares. Three separate entries for the Bitwise XRP ETF are shown: the largest, with 1,205,000 shares held outright, another as a call option with 15,100 shares, and a third with 67 shares.

Jane Street also disclosed smaller but noteworthy positions in the Franklin, Grayscale, Canary, and 21Shares XRP ETFs. The firm’s involvement in a range of products reflects an operational engagement that reaches beyond standard portfolio investment.

Jane Street’s presence across the XRP ETF ecosystem, spanning five separate issuers, points to a substantial market-making role rather than a typical institutional allocation.

Crypto commentator BankXRP highlighted Jane Street’s broad activity, saying its engagement with multiple XRP ETF issuers indicates a structural commitment to providing liquidity in this developing spot ETF market.

Mini dictionary: Jane Street Group is a global quantitative trading firm known for its active role as a market maker across equities, fixed income, and now digital assets. As a market maker, Jane Street provides liquidity by consistently buying and selling assets, helping to ensure smoother price discovery and tighter spreads on trading platforms.

Institutional XRP ETF disclosures surge in 2026The second quarter of 2026 has seen a rising trend of institutional disclosures involving spot XRP ETF products. Other financial institutions, including Wells Fargo and Bank of Montreal, recently revealed significant XRP ETF holdings in their regulatory filings. For example, Wells Fargo reported a $9.18 million investment in Bitwise XRP ETF across two accounts, while Bank of Montreal made a similar disclosure days earlier.

Asset management firms have also joined the trend. Militia Capital Management disclosed ownership of 31,820 shares in the Bitwise XRP ETF in an amended filing, and Gallacher Capital Management reported 86,744 shares of the Canary XRP ETF valued at $961,126. Jane Street’s report stands out due to the scale and range of its investments across different ETF issuers.

InstitutionMain XRP ETF PositionsTotal Value (approx.)Jane Street Group1,205,000 Bitwise shares (plus calls); Franklin, Grayscale, Canary, 21Shares ETF positions$14.05 million (Bitwise only)Wells FargoBitwise XRP ETF (2 positions)$9.18 millionBank of MontrealBitwise XRP ETFN/AMilitia Capital Management31,820 Bitwise sharesN/AGallacher Capital Management86,744 Canary shares$961,126Growing institutional participation in spot XRP ETFsActivity around spot XRP ETFs has intensified throughout 2026, as more institutional players file regular 13F disclosures. Jane Street’s wide-ranging positions across all major issuers reinforce its role in building liquidity for the broader XRP ETF ecosystem.

Each new market participant deepens the order book and enhances investor access, especially as inflows climb and ETF volume expands. The scale of Jane Street’s holdings this quarter makes it one of the largest and most diversified institutional participants in the emerging spot XRP ETF market.

Jane Street’s cross-product disclosure in Q2 2026, with more than 1.2 million Bitwise XRP ETF shares and holdings in Franklin, Grayscale, Canary, and 21Shares, represents one of the most extensive institutional XRP ETF filings to date.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.

XRP is currently trading near its lowest level since November 2024, even as on-chain activity and institutional interest have increased. Recent comments from prominent analysts in Japan and Europe point to renewed discussions about a potential repricing of this cryptocurrency.

Japanese analyst highlights XRP’s unique roleYasuo Matsuda, Senior Analyst at Rakuten Wallet, has offered a positive outlook on XRP, describing it as “uniquely exceptional” within the digital asset landscape. Rakuten Wallet is a widely recognized financial platform in Japan known for its active support of regulated cryptocurrency trading.

Matsuda cited XRP’s design, emphasizing that it was originally developed as a crypto asset for remittance. He stated that this fundamental utility will eventually be reflected in XRP’s market capitalization and price, arguing that a repricing is only a matter of time.

Japan’s long-standing regulatory framework for digital assets has positioned it as a progressive environment for crypto projects to develop. Expert analysis from local financial institutions is often seen as especially influential within the sector.

Yasuo Matsuda, Senior Analyst at Rakuten Wallet, called XRP “uniquely exceptional,” pointing to its original purpose as a remittance asset and suggesting that this value will ultimately be visible in the market capitalization.

European analysts and institutional movesAnalysts outside Japan have voiced similar views. In Germany, a financial expert highlighted XRP’s technical position, calling it “brutally oversold.” The term “oversold” signals a situation where the asset’s market price is below what technical indicators support.

Recent institutional disclosures appear to echo this line of thinking. Ironbridge Private Wealth, a financial services firm, reported holding a combined $10 million position in the Bitwise XRP ETF and Volatility Shares XRP ETF, amounting to about 1.2 million shares in total.

Such positions suggest that some investors anticipate either a recovery or upward movement in XRP’s price in response to fundamental and technical factors.

Mini dictionary: Ironbridge Private Wealth — A financial advisory firm offering investment management services, including positions in digital asset Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs).

InstitutionETFPosition SizeShares HeldIronbridge Private WealthBitwise XRP ETF, Volatility Shares XRP ETF$10 million1.2 millionRising activity and regulatory developmentsMultiple indicators point to increasing activity on the XRP Ledger. The number of active addresses in August grew about one third compared to July, with August 11 marking the busiest day for activity.

AI agent transactions using the x402 protocol on the XRP ledger have approached 2 million, reflecting growing integration of advanced settlement technologies.

Mini dictionary: x402 protocol — A specification that enables automated payment and data transfer by AI agents directly on the XRP Ledger, facilitating seamless machine-to-machine transactions.

Additionally, Ripple moved 50 million XRP from its company-controlled wallet, an event identified as rare and potentially connected to strategic decisions. Ripple, the company behind the XRP cryptocurrency, seeks to modernize global financial infrastructure through real-time cross-border settlement solutions.

On the policy front, the US SEC is preparing to introduce new rules, potentially allowing crypto projects to raise funds without standard registration requirements. Ripple’s chief business officer, Reece Merrick, noted that the company’s mission includes “rewiring the financial system,” particularly focusing on institutional adoption, real-world asset tokenization, and expansion in regions such as the Middle East.

The combination of rising on-chain activity, significant wallet movements, and regulatory changes fuels expectations for an eventual price adjustment in XRP, even as current market levels remain subdued.

The path forward for XRP pricingThe discussion around repricing centers on the divergence between XRP’s trading price and the broader utility and activity within its network. Analysts and institutional buyers contend that this gap represents potential for upward movement, though the timing of any significant price change remains uncertain. XRP has maintained a prominent position among digital assets for over a decade, but observers continue to watch for market dynamics that could align its price with its underlying developments.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.

TLDR:

Table of Contents

XRP whale inflows to Binance fell to $61M, the lowest since 2021 and nearly 87% below January 2025 levels.
Bank of America held 13,260 XRPI shares in Q2, up 260 shares, or roughly 2%, from the first quarter.
Binance XRP netflows stayed positive at $18.8M, showing inflows still exceeded outflows despite the slowdown.
XRP Ledger active addresses rose 84% to 43,543 by August 11, while XRP traded near the key $1.06 level.

XRP is showing two contrasting signals as exchange-bound whale activity falls sharply while Bank of America slightly increases exposure through a regulated futures product. The combination highlights weaker large-holder deposits on Binance alongside a measured increase in institutional securities exposure tied to the token.

CryptoQuant contributor Darkfost said Binance’s 90-day average whale inflows fell to about $61 million, the lowest level since 2021. Meanwhile, an August 14 filing showed Bank of America held 13,260 shares of the Volatility Shares XRP ETF at June 30.

Whale Deposits Fall Sharply While XRP Holds Near $1
The current $61 million average marks a steep decline from roughly $456 million in January 2025 and $355 million in October. That places recent inflows about six to seven-and-a-half times below those earlier levels.

The decline also extended a trend visible in July, when the 90-day average stood near $69 million. Moving from $69 million to $61 million represents an additional decrease of roughly 12%.

Earlier data also showed large daily deposits collapsing from 583 million XRP to 25.3 million XRP. Separately, the 30-day sum of whale inflows fell 34.4%, from 1.445 billion tokens to 947.4 million.

📉 $XRP whale inflows on Binance drop to their lowest since 2021

There's an interesting development currently taking place regarding Binance's whales on XRP.

💥 Their inflows, averaged here over 3 months to get a clean read on the trend, just hit their lowest level since 2021.… pic.twitter.com/kY2FRFtHVM

— Darkfost (@Darkfost_Coc) August 15, 2026

Exchange inflows are often monitored because large deposits can increase potential sell-side supply. However, deposits do not confirm completed sales, so lower inflows do not establish whale accumulation.

That distinction remains important as Binance netflows were still positive at about $18.8 million, according to Darkfost. Therefore, whale-related deposits continued exceeding withdrawals despite the broader decline in inflow activity.

At the same time, network usage increased. Active XRP Ledger addresses rose from 23,642 on August 1 to 43,543 by August 11, an increase exceeding 84%.

Even so, higher address activity did not provide direct evidence of fresh capital entering the market. At press time, XRP traded near $1.06, keeping the $1 level central to current price structure.

Bank of America Raises XRPI Position by 2% in Q2
Against that market backdrop, Bank of America reported a modest increase in its XRP-linked ETF holding for the second quarter. The filing showed 13,260 shares, compared with 13,000 shares reported during the first quarter.

That increase equals 260 shares, or about 2%. The disclosure therefore reflects an expanded existing position rather than a new entry into the product.

The fund, ticker XRPI, is the Volatility Shares XRP ETF and began trading on Nasdaq in May 2025. It seeks returns generally corresponding to the token’s performance.

However, XRPI is futures-based and does not hold the cryptocurrency directly. Bank of America’s position therefore represents indirect exposure through a regulated security.

Together, the two developments present a factual contrast. Whale inflows to Binance are at their weakest level since 2021, while Bank of America modestly increased its ETF position.

Neither signal establishes a broader trend by itself. However, the data shows exchange-side selling pressure easing while regulated institutional exposure increased slightly during the second quarter.