This article was first published on The Bit Journal: Why is Ripple CEO emphasizing the role of XRP in Ripple’s future strategy despite the growing influence of stablecoin RLUSD? Read on to discover.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has reaffirmed XRP’s role in Ripple’s future strategy. Saying that XRP wasn’t simply a token, the CEO stated that it was central to Ripple’s entire ecosystem and daily operations.

The Center of Everything Ripple Does

According to a statement by the chief executive on the social media platform X, Garlinghouse said that even as the company continued building other solutions to enable the Internet of Value, the role of XRP remained at the center of everything. He made the statement after completing a $1.25 billion acquisition of the prime brokerage platform Hidden Road, which has since been renamed Ripple Prime. Commenting on Ripple’s future strategy, Garlinghouse stated:

“With today’s close of Hidden Road (now Ripple Prime), Ripple has announced 5 major acquisitions in ~2 years (GTreasury last week, Rail in August, Standard Custody in 2024, Metaco in 2023) […]  As we continue to build solutions to enable an Internet of Value, I’m reminding you all that XRP sits at the center of everything Ripple does. Lock in.”

Grant Greater Access to Traders

Ripple’s future strategy has involved several acquisitions, such as Hidden Road, aimed at strengthening XRP’s role and improving its liquidity. As a result, it will now be easier for users to buy, sell, and use XRP, enabling more individual traders and institutions to access the token.

According to Ripple President Monica Long, “the future ahead is mighty bright,” since the firm intended to use the deal to unlock utility for both XRP and new stablecoin RLUSD. Long noted that RLUSD was already being used as collateral in prime brokerage products and that Ripple Prime was exploring additional ways to use XRP.

The Center of Ripple’s Future Strategy

While stablecoin RLUSD was already receiving increased market focus, Garlinghouse stated that XRP would continue to serve as a bridge asset within its On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) solution, which has now been rebranded as Ripple Payments. Addressing concerns that an emphasis on stablecoin RLUSD would diminish XRP’s role, Garlinghouse reassured the XRP community that XRP would remain at the center of Ripple’s future strategy. He further stated:

“XRP is the heart of Ripple’s strategy. We are committed to ensuring its continued role in our ecosystem.”

Conclusion

Even amid ongoing global expansion and strategic acquisitions, the company’s entire leadership has reassured users that XRP’s role within the Ripple ecosystem remains intact. Garlinghouse states that the token was not simply a cryptocurrency, as Ripple’s future strategy was founded on.

Ripple’s infrastructure has been designed to complement XRP’s utility and ensure that it remains the central cog of the firm’s growing portfolio.

As Ripple’s influence expands globally, it will be interesting to see how the company places the token as central to its success in the digital asset market.

Glossary to Key Terms

Ripple: A blockchain-based digital payment company that has created a network and protocol that uses the cryptocurrency XRP and the XRP Ledger.

XRP: A digital asset that serves as the native cryptocurrency for the XRP Ledger (XRPL), an open-source, decentralized blockchain built for fast and low-cost global payments.

RLUSD: Also known as Ripple USD, it’s the official Ripple stablecoin, pegged 1:1 to the U.S. Dollar and built on the XRP Ledger. Designed for instant payments and institutional use, RLUSD brings together stability, compliance, and speed, connecting the traditional financial world with on-chain liquidity.

Frequently Asked Questions about XRP

 What are the interesting facts about XRP?

XRP is sometimes referred to as “the banker’s coin,” and for that reason, XRP was originally used for sending cross-border remittances. Today, the primary use case for XRP is making high-value cross-border payments.

What Can I Buy or Pay for With XRP?

Online stores, gift card sites, and some businesses accept XRP for goods and services. Many payment gateways (like Bitpay) integrate XRP as a payment method.

Is XRP Used Outside of Crypto Trading?

Yes. Ripple Labs partners with major banks and payment providers to enable XRP for real-world cross-border payments (e.g., remittances and B2B payment services).

Can I use XRP to transfer money overseas?

Yes. XRP is designed for fast, low-cost international transfers. Many remittance services integrate XRP into their workflows.

Read More: Why XRP Still Matters in Ripple’s Strategy Despite RLUSD’s Growing Influence">Why XRP Still Matters in Ripple’s Strategy Despite RLUSD’s Growing Influence