Ripple’s Business Playbook Could Propel XRP to Reclaim Its All-Time High, Says Expert

Forget the hype—Ripple's playing chess while others trade memes. The company's institutional strategy is building a runway for XRP that retail frenzy alone can't match.

The Enterprise Pipeline

RippleNet isn't just a buzzword. It's a growing network of financial institutions using the company's tech to move value. Each new partnership—whether a bank or a payment processor—adds a potential node for XRP liquidity. That's a slow, steady burn of utility most cryptocurrencies never achieve.

Regulatory Clarity as a Weapon

While other projects operate in legal gray areas, Ripple's very public battle with the SEC provided something rare: a framework. The court's ruling that XRP itself isn't a security gave the asset a green light for exchanges and institutions wary of regulatory backlash. In a sector allergic to rules, that clarity is a competitive edge.

Beyond the Speculative Frenzy

XRP's price doesn't just live on crypto Twitter charts. Its potential surge is tethered to real-world adoption metrics—cross-border transaction volume, ODL corridors, and treasury diversification by corporate partners. It's the boring stuff that builds lasting value, not just another pump fueled by influencer tweets and the collective fear of missing out.

The Path Back to the Peak

Reclaiming its all-time high requires more than market-wide euphoria. It needs the business playbook to execute: converting pilot programs into full-scale deployment, signing the tier-one banks that are still on the sidelines, and proving that digital asset utility can be more profitable than speculative trading—a notion that would make any traditional finance VP scoff into their overpriced latte.

The bet isn't on crypto's irrational exuberance. It's on the glacial, often frustrating, pace of enterprise adoption. If Ripple's chess moves connect, XRP's rally won't be a spike—it'll be a climb.

XRP is once again in focus after crypto analyst Santiago R Santos shared a bullish long-term view on Ripple and its native token. In a recent discussion, Santos said he believes XRP has a higher probability of returning to its all-time high than Ethereum, especially if markets face another broad downturn.

When asked whether XRP or Ripple’s equity would hold more value over the next decade, Santos shifted the conversation toward the bigger picture. “I think 2026 is going to be a really tough year across the board in crypto and equity markets,” he said, before explaining why Ripple could still stand out.

At the time of the discussion, XRP was trading near $1.80–$1.88, giving it a fully diluted valuation of roughly $188 billion. XRP remains well below its all-time high of $3.84, reached in January 2018. At current levels below $2, XRP WOULD need a move of more than 100% to reclaim that peak.

Why Ripple Stands Out Among Top Crypto Networks

According to Santos, Ripple’s biggest advantage is its ability to survive and execute even in difficult market conditions. He said, “I think Ripple has a higher probability than pretty much any other crypto network in the top 10 to, if everything goes down, actually have a higher probability to reach that all-time high.”

In contrast, he was clear about his stance on Ethereum, adding, “I’m very bearish ethereum reaching it all, going back to its all-time high.”

Centralized Product Strategy Is Ripple’s Strength

Santos said that Ripple’s business approach gives it an edge over many decentralized networks. In his view, purely decentralized product decision-making often fails.

He explained, “Decentralized product strategy in BD does not work. Decentralized security but centralized product decision-making is the way to win. Ethereum does not have that.”

He also questioned Ethereum’s valuation, arguing that its market cap does not fully reflect real-world utility. Santos compared Ripple’s valuation to traditional financial giants, pointing out that Visa is valued NEAR $600 billion, while Ripple sits far lower, leaving more room for growth.

XRP’s Role in Growth, Acquisitions, and Distribution

Another reason for Santos’ bullishness is Ripple’s ability to use XRP strategically. He said Ripple has more flexibility than most crypto projects to deploy capital, acquire real businesses, and expand distribution.

“I think Ripple has more breathing room to use its currency to buy real businesses, to build distribution and a product, and has more time to figure this out,” he said. “Some other projects do not, because the market is losing its patience.”