The Ripple CTO David Schwartz recently affirmed that Ripple continues to prioritize XRP, insisting that more XRPL use will lead to greater utility and value for XRP.
In the most recent conversation, an XRP proponent asked Schwartz whether XRP still holds importance for Ripple, pointing out that Ripple now highlights its new stablecoin, RLUSD, more often but barely mentions XRP anymore.
XRP Use as a Bridge in Ripple Payments Dwarfs Every Other Asset
Responding, Schwartz said XRP still plays a major role in Ripple Payments, especially as a bridge between currencies in cross-border transactions.
I don’t have the numbers in front of me, but I’m pretty sure XRP’s use as a bridge in Ripple Payments dwarfs every other asset.
I think stablecoins win for collateral use cases (volatile collateral is annoying) and edge use cases (volatility at the on/off ramps is also…
— David ‘JoelKatz’ Schwartz (@JoelKatz) July 30, 2025
Although he confirmed that he doesn’t have the exact numbers at the time, the Ripple CTO noted that he was certain Ripple uses XRP far more than any other digital asset for its payments service. To him, this proves XRP still sits at the heart of Ripple’s payment system.
Speaking further, he also discussed how RLUSD fits into Ripple’s plan. According to Schwartz, stablecoins like RLUSD make more sense for use cases that depend on price stability, like when companies use crypto assets as collateral or when they enter or exit crypto markets.
Notably, price swings can cause problems in those areas, and RLUSD avoids that. However, for most other uses, Schwartz believes crypto assets like XRP do a better job. He said unless someone wants to avoid risk completely, they’d usually prefer holding major digital assets over cash.
Ripple CTO: More XRPL Use Will Lead to More Utility and Value for XRP
Moreover, Schwartz also stressed that more real-world adoption of the XRP Ledger (XRPL) will naturally lead to more demand for XRP. Specifically, he suggested that as more projects and institutions use XRPL in finance, this will translate to greater utility for XRP and consequently, higher value.
The Ripple CTO pointed out that XRP isn’t just another token added to the system, as it is part of how the ledger works. Because of that, he said it’s much harder to avoid using XRP on XRPL than it is to avoid using the native token on some other networks like Ethereum.
Schwartz’s comments come amid concerns that Ripple is starting to favor RLUSD over XRP. When Ripple launched RLUSD in December 2024, some in the community already felt uneasy.
Growing Concerns Ripple Might be Sidelining XRP
These concerns got louder in May 2025 when Ripple announced that its partner, Hidden Road, a major clearinghouse that works with over 300 institutions, would use RLUSD as its main collateral asset.
The move frustrated longtime XRP proponents like Elena Schoen, who said Ripple now seems to limit XRP to paying transaction fees while letting RLUSD handle the more important work in payments and onboarding.
However, a few community figures have pushed back. Community voice WrathofKahneman argued that Ripple hadn’t turned its back on XRP but had simply shifted toward building services for large institutions. Consultant Jake Claver also said that if Ripple moves more financial activity through XRPL, demand for XRP could actually grow.
Schwartz and Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse have also both tried to make the company’s approach clear. They have reiterated that RLUSD and XRP serve different roles. RLUSD helps with stable, on-chain fiat operations. XRP still fills the role of a bridge for moving money across borders quickly and efficiently.
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