Main Points:
- Explosive Growth: XRP’s active addresses jumped 490% since 2022, compared to Bitcoin’s 10% rise.
- Policy Catalysts: Reports of a U.S. crypto reserve mandate and SEC lawsuit settlement drove rapid price spikes.
- Institutional Interest: 34% of surveyed institutions hold XRP, ahead of Solana and Dogecoin.
- ETP/ETF Inflows: XRP ETPs saw steady inflows even as BTC and ETH products experienced outflows.
- Ecosystem Expansion: Ripple’s investments in education, custody, stablecoins, and escrow management bolster adoption.
Introduction
XRP, the digital asset native to Ripple’s payments network, has witnessed a remarkable resurgence. According to Crypto Times data, the number of active XRP addresses has soared by 490% since 2022, dwarfing Bitcoin’s modest 10% increase over the same period. This surge reflects growing on‑chain engagement, driven by policy developments, institutional adoption, and strategic ecosystem enhancements by Ripple.
Explosive Address Growth
Between January 2022 and April 2025, XRP’s daily active addresses climbed nearly fivefold, from 200,000 to over 1.2 million. By contrast, Bitcoin’s active addresses grew from 1.1 million to 1.21 million—just a 10% gain. This disparity underscores a renewed interest in XRP’s use cases beyond mere speculation, including payments, remittances, and DeFi integrations.
Policy Catalysts and Price Spikes
U.S. Crypto Reserve Mandate Rumors
On March 3, 2025, media reports claimed President Trump had directed the creation of a strategic cryptocurrency reserve. XRP, explicitly named alongside Solana (SOL) and Cardano (ADA), rallied 23% within an hour, illustrating how policy narratives can trigger rapid on‑chain activity.
SEC Lawsuit Settlement
A pivotal moment arrived on March 19, 2025, when Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse announced the official settlement of the long‑running SEC lawsuit. The clarification that XRP is not a security sparked a 15% price jump, reduced legal uncertainty, and prompted Ripple to request the lifting of SEC injunctions.
Institutional Interest and Financial Products
Survey of Institutional Holders
A joint study by Coinbase and EY-Parthenon found that 34% of surveyed institutions hold XRP—surpassing Solana (30%) and Dogecoin (25%). This institutional base has driven the creation and growth of XRP‑linked exchange‑traded products (ETPs).
ETP and ETF Flows
CoinShares data reveals that, in certain weeks, Bitcoin and Ethereum ETPs saw outflows totaling $756 million and $89.2 million, respectively, while XRP ETPs enjoyed inflows of $5.6 million. Even during a $1.69 billion net outflow across crypto ETPs, XRP products attracted $1.8 million. Additionally, Franklin Templeton filed Form S‑1 for a spot XRP ETF in mid‑March, with approval odds estimated at 60–80% by Bloomberg analysts.
Futures Market Developments
Ripple’s push for regulated futures is advancing. Chicago‑based Bitnomial plans to launch CFTC‑regulated XRP futures, and Coinbase Derivatives filed for self‑certification of its XRP futures product “XRL” on April 21, 2025. Regulated futures offer institutional hedging tools and lay groundwork for eventual spot ETF approval.
Ripple’s Ecosystem Initiatives
Education and Literacy
On March 5, Ripple granted $50 million to the National Cryptocurrency Association (NCA) to boost U.S. crypto literacy. NCA, led by Ripple’s CCO Stuart Alderoty, focuses on overcoming barriers like public skepticism and regulatory uncertainty.
Custody Services
Following its 2023 acquisition of Swiss custodian Metaco, Ripple filed for the “Ripple Custody” trademark in February 2025. In partnership with South Korea’s BDACS, it now offers institutional-grade custody for XRP and the upcoming stablecoin RLUSD.
Stablecoin Integration
In April, Ripple integrated its proprietary stablecoin RLUSD into Ripple Payments, enhancing cross‑border liquidity and enabling new DeFi and real‑world asset use cases.
Escrow Management
Ripple continues its monthly escrow release of 1 billion XRP on the first of each month, re-locking unused tokens to maintain predictable supply dynamics and market transparency.
Market Outlook and Price Trends
Technical analysts offer bullish forecasts: trader Ali predicts XRP could reach $15 based on a symmetrical triangle breakout on the weekly chart, while Bollinger Bands inventor John Bollinger cites XRP’s resilience as a sign of further upside potential.
XRP’s fivefold increase in active addresses, combined with regulatory clarity, institutional adoption, and strategic ecosystem investments, marks a significant evolution. As Ripple expands education, custody, stablecoins, and escrow mechanisms, XRP’s on‑chain utility and market appeal continue to grow. While price trajectories remain debated, XRP’s robust fundamentals lay the groundwork for sustained long‑term growth. Stakeholders should monitor policy developments, ETP/ETF approvals, and ecosystem enhancements to navigate XRP’s next phase of adoption.
