Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, David Schwartz, is offering one of the most direct glimpses yet into how he envisions the future of XRP and the XRP Ledger (XRPL)—and it’s about much more than just moving money.
In a detailed post on X, Schwartz explained that XRPL is rapidly evolving into a complete financial ecosystem, with components capable of supporting stablecoins, tokenized assets, loans, and even decentralized finance (DeFi) functions. “A DEX doesn’t work with just one asset,” he noted, reinforcing XRPL’s readiness to support a wide variety of instruments.
XRP’s Special Role Within XRPL
While the ledger can support a wide range of assets, Schwartz emphasized that XRP maintains a “privileged” status. It’s the only asset:
- Any account on XRPL can receive
- That operates without a counterparty
- That serves as the default liquidity path in routing
- Used to pay transaction fees
Autobridging and pathfinding functions within the network prioritize XRP, which makes it more likely to be used in trades across pairs—further entrenching its core function in the network’s infrastructure.
XRPL as a Full-Stack Financial Layer
Schwartz’s latest comments come amid Ripple’s broader shift from simply a cross-border payments facilitator to a next-gen financial platform. By combining native assets like XRP with Ripple-issued stablecoins like RLUSD, the XRPL may soon support more traditional financial tools: from lending and investing to real-world asset tokenization.
“This isn’t just a payments solution anymore,” Schwartz implied. It’s the foundation for a blockchain-based system designed to rival banks and fintechs—but with lower friction and greater transparency.
The Open Question: How Much Value Flows Back to XRP?
Still, Schwartz acknowledged the complexity in measuring how XRPL’s growing utility will translate into long-term value for XRP. “It’s very hard to know how much of XRP’s value today comes from XRPL’s value,” he said.
That open question now becomes central as Ripple prepares to roll out new tools and stablecoins in the coming months. If XRPL truly becomes a financial backbone, XRP’s function and valuation could follow suit.
Kosta Gushterov
Reporter at Coindoo
Kosta has been a part of the team since 2021 and has solidified his position with a thirst for knowledge, incredible dedication to his work and a “detective-like” mindset. He not only covers a wide range of trending topics, he also creates reviews, PR articles and educational content. His work has also been referenced by other news outlets.
Source: https://coindoo.com/ripple-cto-says-xrpl-will-power-more-than-payments/