Digital Euro & XRP: The Burning Question Everyone’s Asking in 2026
Central Bank Digital Currencies are reshaping finance—but which blockchain tech powers them? The digital euro's architecture remains a closely guarded secret, sparking intense speculation about potential private-sector partnerships.
Ripple's XRP Ledger: A Contender or a Distraction?
While Ripple's enterprise-grade settlement network boasts speed and low cost, European policymakers prioritize sovereignty and regulatory control above all else. The ECB's in-house development efforts suggest a preference for proprietary systems over integrating an existing crypto asset—no matter how efficient.
The Real Motive Behind the Silence
Official channels maintain radio silence on specific technologies. This strategic ambiguity lets regulators keep their options open while the market does what it always does: overhype every rumor. It's classic finance—create a mystery, watch the speculation drive engagement, and then act surprised at the volatility.
For XRP holders hoping for a central bank bailout, the writing might be on the wall. The digital euro project appears to be building a walled garden, not opening a public bridge. Sometimes the most powerful statement is the partnership you *don't* announce.
How The Digital Euro Has Ties To XRP
In an X post, SMQKE highlighted the ties between the proposed digital euro, which is expected to launch by 2029, and XRP. The DLT pilot program will allegedly be used to issue this Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). Meanwhile, Axiology is the XRPL-based technological LAYER for the DLT Transactional Settlement System (DLT TSS), which indicates a potential connection between the digital euro and the token.
Furthermore, SMQKE noted that the DLT is working on a secondary market for tokenized securities, which is also a positive for the crypto and the Ledger. Despite the ties between the digital euro and XRP, the European Central Bank (ECB) has yet to say whether it will launch the CBDC on any public blockchain, including the Ledger.
The Ledger is already home to several stablecoins, including Ripple’s RLUSD and Circle’s USDC, which are natively issued on the network. Meanwhile, Schuman’s EURØP, a MiCA-compliant and euro-backed stablecoin, is also issued on the Ledger. The issuance of these stablecoins on the network is bullish for the token because it could boost the altcoin’s adoption as the native token of the Ledger.
Notably, the Ledger developers are also working on several updates to help onboard institutions onto the network. This includes privacy tools to ensure that these institutions can MOVE their funds on-chain without being monitored. These developers are also working to eliminate the risk posed by quantum computing by introducing quantum-resistant code on the Ledger.
“The Global Financial System Is Running On XRP”
In an X post, crypto pundit Jake Claver declared that the global financial system runs on XRP and that big banks are quietly accumulating the altcoin because they know what is coming. He further noted that one the altcoin can power multiple cross-border transactions daily and that several companies will soon need it to survive in global trade. “The writing is on the wall. Get ready or get left behind,” Claver added.
However, popular community member Crypto Eri countered Claver’s statement, suggesting that banks do not need to hold the token for these transactions. She stated that Ripple facilitates ODL for payment providers using XRP in liquidity corridors. Crypto Eri further remarked that this includes an optional Ripple-managed wallet that the user dips into on demand without exposure to the altcoin. In line with this, she said that banks don’t quietly accumulate for payments but instead use the Ripple payments solution.
At the time of writing, the altcoin’s price is trading at around $2.13, up over 3% in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.
