Ripple’s RLUSD Hits First Year Milestone as Stablecoins Dominate XRP Ecosystem News
Forget the volatility—the real action in crypto is happening off the rollercoaster. Stablecoins are no longer just a sideshow; they're becoming the main stage for institutional adoption and everyday utility.
The Infrastructure Play
Ripple's RLUSD just celebrated its first anniversary, quietly building rails while everyone watches price charts. This isn't about moon shots—it's about creating the plumbing for cross-border payments that actually work. Faster than SWIFT, cheaper than traditional corridors, and available 24/7.
Why This Matters Now
Regulators are finally drawing lines in the sand. Clear rules—even strict ones—create certainty. And certainty is what brings big money off the sidelines. Ripple's ongoing legal clarity, contrasted with the SEC's scattergun approach elsewhere, gives XRP's ecosystem a unique runway.
Stablecoins are becoming the gateway. They're the on-ramp for TradFi, the settlement layer for remittances, and the safe harbor during market storms. RLUSD's first year wasn't marked by a parabolic price pump, but by growing integration—the boring, essential work that precedes mass adoption.
The bottom line? The future of finance isn't being built on speculation alone. It's being built on utility, compliance, and bridges to the old system. The smart money is betting on the tokens that provide the steel, not just the sizzle—even if that means enduring lectures from bankers who still think a wire transfer is 'cutting-edge.'
Stablecoins are quickly shedding their image as tools meant only for crypto trading. Today, they are becoming a serious settlement layer for global finance, processing volumes that now rival, and in some cases exceed, traditional banking and payment networks. Ripple sees this shift as a major inflection point, one that could redefine how money moves across borders.
From Trading Pair to Payment Infrastructure
Ripple’s Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, Reece Merrick, recently highlighted how far stablecoins have come. In 2025 alone, stablecoin settlement volumes are projected to reach between $28 trillion and $30 trillion, representing a sharp jump from previous years. That figure puts stablecoins ahead of many legacy payment rails in terms of raw value settled.
What started as a liquidity bridge for crypto markets is now being used for cross-border payments, treasury management, and institutional settlements. Speed, 24/7 availability, and low costs are turning stablecoins into a practical alternative to slower banking systems.
On-Chain Usage Shows Real Demand
The growth is not limited to headline volume numbers. Stablecoins now account for roughly 30% of all on-chain transactions, up from about 20% in earlier years. More than 10 million wallet addresses are actively using stablecoins every day, showing that adoption is spreading beyond professional traders.
This trend reflects a clear preference for digital cash that settles instantly and works across networks. As blockchain infrastructure improves, stablecoins are increasingly becoming the default medium of exchange on-chain.
Regulation Brings Confidence
Another key driver behind this momentum is regulation. Governments and regulators are no longer standing on the sidelines. Frameworks in the US, Europe, and the Middle East are bringing clarity, making institutions more comfortable integrating stablecoins into their operations. Ripple believes this mix of regulatory certainty and real-world demand is what allows stablecoins to scale sustainably.
RLUSD Shows Ripple’s Strategy in Action
Ripple’s own USD stablecoin, RLUSD, offers a snapshot of this broader shift. According to Ripple executive Jack McDonald, RLUSD recently marked its first anniversary and has already climbed into the top five USD stablecoins. The November independent attestation confirmed its growing footprint.
RLUSD has gained conditional approval for Ripple National Trust Bank from the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, placing it under both federal and New York oversight. It has also expanded to multiple LAYER 2 networks via Wormhole, been green-listed by Abu Dhabi’s FSRA for collateral use, and added support on Gemini for fast, low-cost settlement on the XRPL.
Stablecoins Surge While XRP Lags
Ripple advocate Bill Morgan summed up the contrast simply. RLUSD had a strong year driven by adoption and compliance, while XRP struggled to reflect similar momentum in price. The divergence highlights how Ripple’s stablecoin push is gaining traction even as the market continues to debate XRP’s valuation.
Overall, Ripple’s view is clear. Stablecoins are no longer experimental. They are rapidly becoming the backbone of a faster, more programmable global financial system.
