XRP Faces New Institutional Competition as Trump-Backed WLFI Seeks National Trust Charter for Crypto Expansion

In a significant development for the cryptocurrency regulatory landscape, World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a firm with notable ties to former President Donald Trump, is actively pursuing a national trust charter in the United States. This strategic move, if approved, would place WLFI in direct institutional competition with established crypto giants like Ripple (XRP) and Fidelity Digital Assets. The charter's primary objective is to authorize the company to issue a U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin and to facilitate seamless cryptocurrency conversions for its customers. Zach Witkoff, the proposed head of WLFI's trust subsidiary, has positioned this initiative as a pivotal step toward mainstream financial integration for digital assets. For XRP and the broader market, this signals an accelerating trend of traditional and politically-connected entities entering the crypto space, potentially validating the asset class while intensifying competition. The pursuit of a national trust charter underscores a growing recognition of the need for regulated, institutional-grade frameworks to support digital asset services, including stablecoins and custody solutions. This development could exert positive pressure on the entire sector, including XRP, by fostering greater regulatory clarity and institutional adoption. However, it also introduces a new, well-connected player that could compete directly with Ripple's offerings in payments and liquidity solutions. As of early 2026, the crypto market continues to evolve rapidly, with such moves highlighting the convergence of political influence, traditional finance, and digital innovation, setting the stage for the next phase of growth and consolidation in the industry.

Trump-Backed WLFI Seeks National Trust Charter for Crypto Expansion

World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a firm with ties to former President Donald Trump, is advancing plans to secure a national trust charter in the U.S. The move would position the company alongside major crypto players like Ripple and Fidelity Digital Assets, enabling it to issue a USD-pegged stablecoin and streamline customer crypto conversions.

Zach Witkoff, proposed head of WLFI's trust subsidiary, framed the charter as a transformative step for the ecosystem. Approval WOULD grant access to custodial banking services and national payment networks under OCC oversight—a lighter regulatory touch than full banking charters require.

The OCC has previously granted similar charters to crypto firms, creating a pathway for digital asset management without state-by-state licensing hurdles. This development signals growing institutional acceptance of blockchain-based financial infrastructure.

Ripple (XRP) Poised for Potential Breakout in 2026, Echoing 2018 Rally

Ripple's XRP token, which delivered a staggering 900% return during its January 2018 surge, may be preparing for another significant breakout in 2026 according to technical analysis. CryptoPatel's TradingView chart analysis suggests the $2.15 level has become critical support, with buyers actively defending this threshold.

The analyst notes diminishing sell pressure and strengthening chart patterns that could propel XRP into a demand zone. A sustained hold above $2.15 might trigger a price catapult reminiscent of the 2018 bull run, when XRP soared from $0.24 to $2.46 within weeks.

Market cycles appear to be aligning favorably for XRP, with the next potential breakout window projected for 2026. Should history repeat, current positions could see exponential gains similar to the 2018 scenario where $1,000 investments multiplied tenfold.

Evernorth-Doppler Deal Advances Institutional XRP Infrastructure

Evernorth, a digital asset treasury backed by Ripple and SBI Holdings, has partnered with Doppler Finance to explore institutional liquidity solutions on the XRP Ledger (XRPL). The collaboration aims to design on-chain frameworks for large-scale XRP treasury management, targeting structured liquidity deployment and risk-mitigated institutional participation.

The partnership signals growing institutional interest in XRPL, with Doppler's infrastructure positioned to bridge treasury assets and blockchain utility. Focus areas include piloting custody solutions, liquidity mechanisms, and compliance-grade tooling for corporate and institutional capital deployment.

Government Research Paper Highlights XRP's Institutional Adoption Potential

A resurfaced U.S. space and defense research paper (2018-2019) has reignited bullish sentiment for XRP. The document draws a critical distinction between blockchain and distributed ledger technology (DLT), positioning DLT as the framework governments prioritize for regulated environments.

The paper explicitly contrasts permissionless systems like Bitcoin and ethereum with permissioned ledgers tailored for banking, payments, and identity management—a niche where Ripple's architecture and XRP thrive. Institutional use cases dominate the analysis: cross-border settlement, certified data sharing, and compliance-focused infrastructure.

Crypto analyst NoLimit emphasizes the paper's long-term implications. 'This isn’t about speculative trading,' he notes. 'It’s about how regulators view ledger technologies—and where XRP fits in their blueprint.'