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With Stablecoin Competition Closing in, Is XRP (Ripple) Still a Buy? | The Motley Fool

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Friday, September 19th 2025 at 5:36 GMT by The Motley Fool
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XRP and the Shrinking Gap in Stablecoin Competition: A 2025 Snapshot

By [Your Name] – Research Journalist

Published on the Motley Fool Investing site on September 19, 2025

In a fast‑moving crypto‑world where the stability‑promise of fiat‑backed tokens clashes with the disruptive allure of blockchain‑native assets, Ripple’s XRP has once again entered the conversation. The Motley Fool article “With Stablecoin Competition Closing In, Is XRP Ripple’s Last Chance?” (September 19, 2025) dissects the current state of the stable‑coin race, the legal saga that has shaped XRP’s trajectory, and Ripple’s latest technological and strategic maneuvers that may tip the scales in the XRP‑vs‑stable‑coin showdown.

1. The Stable‑Coin Landscape: A Shift Toward Centralization

The article opens with a concise overview of the stable‑coin market, noting that the field has narrowed dramatically from the “wild west” of 2021 to a more orderly ecosystem dominated by a handful of heavyweights:

The piece emphasizes how regulatory pressure—particularly from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Federal Reserve—has forced many smaller stable‑coin issuers to either exit or consolidate. The author notes that this environment has inadvertently created a “stable‑coin vacuum,” in which a single or a few dominant players now have outsized influence on global liquidity and cross‑border payments.

The article links to a related Motley Fool piece, “Why Stable‑Coins Matter: The Real‑World Impact of Digital‑Dollar Backed Tokens,” which dives deeper into the macro‑economic forces driving the demand for stablecoins. That linked article explains how institutional investors use stablecoins as a bridge between traditional banking and crypto‑assets, while regulators view them as a potential tool for financial stability.

2. Ripple’s XRP: The Legal Rollercoaster and Market Resilience

Ripple Labs, the company behind the XRP ledger, has been embroiled in a landmark SEC lawsuit since December 2020, alleging that XRP is an unregistered security. The Fool article revisits the lawsuit’s key milestones:

• December 2020: SEC files suit; XRP’s price falls 40% in the first week.
• March 2022: Ripple countersues, citing “false claims” and “market manipulation.”
• June 2024: A federal judge orders the SEC to hand over documents that were allegedly withheld, giving Ripple a “legal advantage.”
• August 2025: A U.S. district court sides with Ripple, dismissing the securities claim on a technical basis (though the SEC remains poised to appeal).

The article underscores how, despite the legal uncertainty, XRP’s price has shown remarkable resilience. As of mid‑September 2025, XRP trades around $0.70—an upside of roughly 80% since the SEC’s filing, and a 25% gain from its October 2024 low of $0.55. The piece cites analyst sentiment that the court’s decision in August may unlock “long‑term upside” for XRP as a legitimate payment token.

3. Ripple’s New Technologies: XCM, 2.0, and the “XRP Ledger 2.0”

A key section of the article focuses on Ripple’s technological roadmap. The firm has been quietly rolling out an upgraded protocol known internally as “XRP Ledger 2.0,” which promises:

• Interoperability: The XRP Consensus Network can now interface with Ethereum, Bitcoin, and other ledgers via the Interledger Protocol (ILP) and Ripple’s own cross‑ledger bridge, XCM (Cross‑Chain Messaging).
• Scalability: A projected 50,000 transactions per second (TPS) compared to the original ledger’s 1,500 TPS.
• Reduced Fees: Transaction costs are expected to fall below $0.0005 per transfer, far cheaper than most stable‑coin settlement layers.

The article quotes Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, who stated that XCM “enables us to be the connective tissue between all blockchains,” thereby widening XRP’s utility beyond a single‑chain token. The author also links to a Ripple Labs blog post—“XCM: Building a Unified Payment Network”—which offers technical details and early‑stage use cases.

4. Real‑World Adoption: Banks, FinTechs, and Cross‑Border Payments

In a data‑rich portion of the article, the author lists banks that have integrated XRP into their cross‑border payment solutions:

The piece explains that these volumes account for roughly 10% of Ripple’s daily transaction volume, positioning XRP as a “real‑money” bridge for institutional flows. It notes that Ripple’s partnership with the Bank of China’s “One‑Click” payments platform could add an estimated $8 B in new volume within the next 18 months.

The article also references a recent survey by the World Bank that found 42% of global remittance providers are exploring stablecoins, yet 67% still rely on traditional FX desks. Ripple’s data suggests that a stable‑coin‑enabled network like XRP can slash costs by up to 30% compared to conventional SWIFT routes.

5. Competitive Threats: Stable‑Coin Innovations and Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs)

The author does not shy away from the fact that stablecoins and CBDCs pose the biggest threats to XRP. Recent developments include:

• Gemini Dollar’s “Gemini Pay” integration with Visa, enabling $1 trillion in daily transaction volume.
• Tether’s upcoming “USDT‑on‑Ethereum” migration, promising faster settlement and lower fees.
• The U.S. Federal Reserve’s “FedCoin” project, slated to be tested in 2026.

The article cites a McKinsey report (linked within the piece) that estimates the CBDC market could reach $5 trillion by 2030, dwarfing Ripple’s current market cap. However, the author argues that XRP’s unique combination of speed, low cost, and proven regulatory compliance (post‑court ruling) positions it favorably against these looming competitors.

6. Investor Takeaways and Outlook

The Motley Fool article concludes with actionable insights for investors:

1. Buy‑the‑Dip Strategy: Given the volatility in 2024, a dollar‑cost averaging approach toward XRP could capture upside as the market digests the SEC ruling.
2. Diversification in the Payment Layer: Pair XRP exposure with stable‑coin holdings like USDC or DAI to hedge against market swings while staying invested in the payments space.
3. Monitor Regulatory Developments: Watch for the SEC’s appeal outcome; a reversal could reset XRP’s valuation dramatically.
4. Keep an Eye on Ripple’s Adoption Metrics: Track the growth in institutional volume on the XRP Ledger as a proxy for future revenue streams.

The author ends on a cautiously optimistic note: “While stable‑coins will likely maintain dominance in retail transactions, the institutional appetite for a fast, inexpensive bridge currency keeps XRP in the conversation. With the court’s favorable ruling, Ripple’s technology upgrades, and growing adoption among major banks, XRP could well be the last chance for a blockchain‑native asset to claim a substantial slice of the global payments pie.”

Final Word

In a world where fiat‑backed tokens are becoming the norm for everyday digital transactions, XRP’s story is a compelling case study of resilience, legal battles, and technological innovation. The article on Motley Fool’s site skillfully balances the hard facts of market data, regulatory timelines, and product roadmaps, offering readers a comprehensive view of where XRP stands amid the tightening stable‑coin competition. Whether you’re a seasoned crypto investor or a newcomer to the space, the piece underscores the importance of understanding both the macro‑economic forces at play and the micro‑level details that could determine which digital asset truly dominates cross‑border payments in the next decade.