Key Takeaways
- Ripple and DriveWealth are integrating RLUSD settlement, cross-border payments, and custody services.
- Some X users questioned whether the partnership would generate meaningful demand for XRP.
- BarriC’s $750 XRP price scenario would imply a massive market capitalization above $47 trillion.
Ripple’s new partnership with DriveWealth has drawn complaints from some XRP supporters, who have questioned how the token benefits from an agreement that emphasizes RLUSD settlement.
The reaction exposes the expanding tension between Ripple’s expanding business and the adoption assumptions behind extreme XRP projections circulating in the community.
One of the most recent resurfaced viral scenarios is XRP’s meteoric price rise to $750, as forecast by crypto commentator BarriC.
While the partnership brings additional financial services to the XRPL, it does not establish the buying demand required to support such a valuation.
Ripple Brings RLUSD to DriveWealth’s Brokerage Infrastructure
Under the October 14 agreement, DriveWealth is integrating Ripple’s stablecoin infrastructure for settlement in Europe, with plans to expand to the United States.
The service will use RLUSD on the XRPL alongside Ripple’s minting and redemption capabilities.
DriveWealth is also integrating Ripple Payments for cross-border funding and working with the company on digital asset custody in Europe.
Separately, the firms are exploring equity financing opportunities through Ripple Prime’s Delta One business.
The companies are targeting a funding mismatch faced by international investors.
US equities settle one business day after a trade, but cross-border dollar transfers can take longer, potentially leaving capital unavailable when needed.
“We’ve already enabled 24/5 trading; now we need the funding to match, so clients can move with the markets instead of waiting for them,” DriveWealth CEO Naureen Hassan said in the announcement.
According to the companies, clients can use stablecoins to fund collateral accounts and convert them into cash in near real time.
‘And Not XRP?’ Holders Question the Token’s Role
In an October 14 X post, Ripple’s senior vice president of stablecoins, Jack McDonald, welcomed the partnership.
“Big month ahead for @Ripple and $RLUSD — very excited about this partnership with @DriveWealth!” he wrote.
McDonald said the agreement brought together stablecoins, payments, custody, and prime brokerage, with RLUSD on the XRPL supporting faster settlement.
However, several replies shown questioned the emphasis on the stablecoin.
“And not XRP :-(,” wrote @iamMister17.
Another user, @Crypto_Melymel, asked:
“Jack when will XRP actually be used at scale?”
User @Lilgucci2 questioned Ripple’s priorities, writing:
“Why you guys don’t put this much in XRP like you do with RIPPLE & RLUSD”
Some other holders. Another respondent, @wleatherman9, welcomed the announcement:
“get it jack this is going to be massive”
$750 XRP Price Scenario Resurfaces
An August 31 X post from BarriC has resurfaced as bulls continue to predict exceptionally high prices.
The XRP and crypto commentator compared the token’s price rally from $0.006 to $3 between 2017 and 2018 to a hypothetical move from $1.38 to $750.
However, the actual move from $0.006 to $3 represents a 500-fold increase.
Applying that exact multiplier to $1.38 yields $690.
Reaching $750 would require a staggering 543-fold increase.
XRP traded around $1.31 on October 15, with approximately 63.13 billion tokens in circulation, according to CoinMarketCap.
From that rounded price, reaching $750 would require a gain of approximately 57,150%.
This would imply a massive market capitalization of around $47.35 trillion.
RLUSD Settlement Does Not Mean Large XRP Purchases
Despite the pushback, the token still has a role in operating the ledger.
All transactions incur XRP fees, which are destroyed.
The standard minimum transaction cost is currently 0.00001 XRP, though it can increase under heavy network load.
However, paying the small network fee is different from using XRP as the key asset transferred between institutions.
Additional activity is likely to strengthen the ledger’s financial ecosystem, but whether it drives more demand for XRP will depend on how institutions use the network.
The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be, nor should it be construed as, financial advice. We do not make any warranties regarding the completeness, reliability, or accuracy of this information. All investments involve risk, and past performance does not guarantee future results. We recommend consulting a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.
Kurt Robson is a London-based reporter at CCN, specialising in the fast-moving worlds of crypto and emerging technology. He began his career covering local news in Cornwall after graduating from Falmouth University with First Class Honours in Journalism. There, he cut his teeth on everything from council meetings to missing swans.
He quickly rose through the ranks to become a frontline journalist at several of the UK’s leading national newspapers. Over the years, he has interviewed musicians and celebrities, reported from courtrooms and crime scenes, and secured multiple front-page exclusives.
Following the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kurt shifted his focus to technology journalism—just ahead of the AI boom. With a natural curiosity and a trained eye for emerging trends, he has found a new rhythm in reporting on innovation.
At CCN, Kurt's work focuses on the cutting edge of crypto, blockchain, AI, and the evolving digital world. Drawing on his background in people-first reporting and his deep interest in disruptive tech, Kurt delivers stories that are insightful, entertaining, and human-centric.
