Ripple CTO Explains How RLUSD Boosts XRP and XRPL Development

• RLUSD enhances XRPL trading activity, leveraging XRP as a bridge for decentralized exchanges and Real World Assets.
• Ripple’s dual strategy with XRP and RLUSD strengthens its ecosystem and positions XRPL as a DeFi hub.

The recently launched RLUSD stablecoin and its potential to enhance the XRP Ledger (XRPL) ecosystem has been highlighted by Ripple CTO David Schwartz. This follows observations by crypto researcher Anderson in a recent CNF update, noting that a higher XRP price could significantly transform Ripple and the broader XRP ecosystem.

In a video shared on Ripple’s X account, Schwartz described RLUSD as a well-designed asset offering benefits to both users and developers.

Ripple USD ($RLUSD) introduces a top-tier, fully-backed US dollar stablecoin to the XRP Ledger.@joelkatz shares how $RLUSD enhances functionality and opens new possibilities for developers on XRPL. pic.twitter.com/HXffCfqBYB

— Ripple (@Ripple) December 21, 2024

Its integration into the XRPL ecosystem is expected to boost trading activity, with XRP serving as a bridge currency for decentralized exchanges.

Complementary Role for XRP and RLUSD

Schwartz emphasized the complementary roles of RLUSD and XRP within Ripple’s payment infrastructure. While XRP continues as the bridge currency for cross-border transactions, RLUSD taps into the growing tokenized Real World Assets (RWA) market.

He noted that the increasing demand for stablecoins positions RLUSD as a key player, leveraging XRPL’s speed and cost efficiency. Ripple aims to expand its ecosystem with these two assets working in tandem to drive adoption and market influence.

RLUSD Stats Reflect Early Adoption

Since its launch, RLUSD has maintained its 1:1 peg to the US dollar. Initial trading activity saw whale movements but has since stabilized. According to XPMarkets, RLUSD has a supply of 19.1 million tokens, a market cap of $4.6 million, and approximately 6,600 holders. Its fully diluted market cap of $19 million signals a promising start.

Ripple’s dual approach with XRP and RLUSD represents a strategic move to address diverse use cases while strengthening XRPL as a hub for decentralized finance.

Currently, XRP is trading at $2.14, reflecting a 4.16% drop in the past day and an 11.28% decline over the past week. Nevertheless, bulls remain optimistic, with CNF reporting speculation that XRP could hit $5 by January 1.