Deck: Despite strong fundamentals, XRP’s price stalls. We unpack why, the latest Ripple moves, and what could push XRP higher or lower before 2025. ---
Introduction
XRP seems stuck in limbo. On one hand, Ripple Labs is spending billions acquiring major financial infrastructure companies. There’s a vibrant developer surge thanks to the new EVM side chain. Plus, the Swell conference in New York is bringing Wall Street’s biggest players together around XRP’s future. Yet, XRP’s price has been sluggish for months, baffling holders who wonder: is this a calm before a big rally or the start of a downtrend? In this article, we’ll break down the forces shaping XRP’s next move, key catalysts on the horizon, and the risks investors need to watch.
Massive Ripple Acquisitions Shift the Financial Landscape
Ripple isn’t just aiming to collaborate with traditional finance – it’s buying it piece by piece. In 2025 alone, Ripple shelled out nearly $4 billion on strategic acquisitions:
- Hidden Road (now Ripple Prime): A $1.25 billion prime brokerage firm acquisition anchoring institutional services.
- Rail: A $200 million stablecoin payments platform acquisition amplifying XRP’s payments reach.
- G Treasury: Bought for $1 billion, this treasury management software is trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
- Palisade: A crypto custody wallet firm snapped up just before the Swell conference.
This war chest signals Ripple’s ambition to embed XRP deeply into the core plumbing of institutional finance. For investors, these acquisitions indicate a long-term foundational buildup rather than short-term hype.
XRP Ledger’s Game-Changing EVM Side Chain Launched
A major technical leap has also arrived. In June 2025, the much-anticipated Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) side chain, developed by Purist Technologies, went live on XRP Ledger (XRPL). This side chain:
- Integrates Ethereum’s smart contract compatibility with XRPL’s speed.
- Uses XRP as the native gas token via the Axillar bridge.
- Has attracted 87 new developers and projects unfamiliar with XRPL previously.
- Examples include DeFi protocols like Strobe Finance and Vertex Protocol entering the XRP ecosystem.
- Enhanced wallets like Examine rolled out faster onboarding and decentralized swaps.
This side chain makes XRPL not just a payment network, but a growing DeFi and institutional hub. Early adoption numbers show promise for real ecosystem expansion.
XRP’s Price Reaction: Sell the News or Market Apathy?
Despite this flood of bullish news, the price action tells a frustrating story:
- EVM chain launch sparked only an 8% price bump that quickly faded.
- G Treasury acquisition announcement barely moved the needle.
- Spot XRP ETFs launched in the US and Canada, yet XRP’s price dropped 35% from a July $3.65 peak.
- Ahead of Ripple’s Swell conference, XRP’s price fell 7.5% as investors preemptively sold.
This is a textbook “sell the news” scenario. Traders bought upfront on anticipation but dumped once the updates became official. The market’s “buy the rumor, sell the news” behavior has kept XRP stuck in a sideways rollercoaster, creating frustration for holders who see fundamental gains but no sustained price lift.
Swell Conference: Wall Street’s Eyes on XRP
Ripple’s Swell conference in New York is not your average crypto event. It’s a convergence of:
- Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman
- Executives from BlackRock, Citigroup, Franklin Templeton, BNY Mellon, Fidelity
- A senior White House Digital Assets Council policy advisor
The agenda focuses on XRP-powered tokenization, stablecoins, treasury services, and prime brokerage solutions. Day one delivered notable news: Ripple’s stablecoin RLUSD surpassed a $1 billion market cap within its first year. This rapid institutional uptake signals growing trust in regulated, bank-backed digital dollars.
Yet, even with such heavyweight interest, XRP’s price didn’t break free. Instead, the market’s psychological conditioning to sell ahead of news is tightening its grip.
Key Catalysts for Q4 and Into 2025
Don’t give up just yet. There are significant growth drivers still ahead in the final months of the year:
1. SEC Spot ETF Decision (Deadline November 14)
Franklin Templeton’s spot XRP ETF application awaits a verdict with market data showing over 99% odds of approval by year-end. Analysts at JP Morgan project an inflow of $3-8 billion from XRP ETFs in the first year alone — institutional capital that could push XRP prices substantially higher.
2. Rise of Corporate XRP Treasuries
Ripple-backed Evernorth is merging with a NASDAQ-listed company – ticker XRPN – aiming to raise over $1 billion to buy XRP openly. It would be a publicly traded entity focused solely on accumulating XRP. Other firms like Trident Digital and Japan’s SBI Holdings are assembling multi-billion-dollar XRP treasuries. This creates a powerful structural demand independent of retail sentiment.
3. Native Lending Protocol on the XRP Ledger
Ripple plans to introduce a built-in lending protocol on XRPL before year-end. Coupled with new token standards like multi-purpose tokens (MPTs), this upgrade aims to make XRPL a top institutional DeFi hub, further broadening XRP’s use cases and utility.
The Data Callout: XRP's Developer Surge
Since the EVM side chain launch in June 2025, 87 new entities with no prior XRPL history have started building on the side chain. This is the biggest onboarding spike in XRP history, signaling a strong developer shift toward diversifying XRPL from just payments to smart contracts and DeFi.
Challenges & Risks: Why Price Stalls Despite Good News
XRP faces a tough battlefield:
- Macroeconomic headwinds: The Federal Reserve’s “higher for longer” interest rates and a strong US dollar curb capital flowing into risk assets like crypto. Treasury bonds offer safer yields, reducing crypto’s appeal.
- Bitcoin dominance: Bitcoin holds roughly 60% of crypto market dominance; altcoin season index at just 26/100 shows money favors Bitcoin, not altcoins like XRP currently.
- Uncertain market cycles: The historic 4-year cycle points to an expected Q4 blowoff top, but new institutional capital flows may be reshaping this pattern, keeping investors on edge.
- Competition: Solana now processes over $2 trillion a month in stablecoin transfers, dwarfing XRP’s volumes. Western Union, after testing XRP in 2018, chose to launch its own stablecoin on Solana due to cost concerns.
- Scalability questions: XRP’s 1,500 transactions per second (TPS) is impressive but far behind Solana’s theoretical 65,000 TPS, raising questions about long-term capacity as adoption expands.
These headwinds combine to mute price momentum, even if fundamentals improve.
Answer Box: Why Is XRP’s Price Stuck Despite Good News?
XRP’s price stagnation despite strong fundamentals is due to “sell the news” trader behavior, macroeconomic headwinds like high interest rates limiting crypto risk flow, Bitcoin’s market dominance siphoning capital, and increasing competition from high-speed platforms like Solana. This mix creates a market caught between long-term promise and short-term caution.
Actionable Summary for XRP Investors
- Ripple’s $4 billion acquisition spree is transforming XRP into institutional finance infrastructure.
- The XRPL EVM side chain launch brought 87 new developer projects, expanding XRP’s ecosystem into DeFi.
- Despite strong tech and strategic progress, XRP price suffers from “sell the news” patterns and macro headwinds.
- Upcoming catalysts include SEC spot ETF decision, corporate XRP treasuries, and a native lending protocol on XRPL.
- Market risks like macro rates, Bitcoin dominance, and competition from Solana demand cautious optimism.
Why Watch Q4 for XRP? Get Deeper Analysis with Wolfy Wealth PRO
The next few weeks will determine if XRP’s fundamental strength can break through the market’s wall of worry. For investors who want timely ETF alerts, institutional trend insights, and strategy updates tailored to XRP and the broader altcoin market, Wolfy Wealth PRO offers the full playbook. Gain access to model portfolios and risk rules that help you navigate volatile environments with confidence.
FAQ
Q1: What is the EVM side chain on XRP Ledger?
It’s a new blockchain layer launched in June 2025 that allows Ethereum-compatible smart contracts to run on XRP Ledger, using XRP as the gas token. This expands XRP’s functionality beyond payments to include DeFi and tokenized assets.
Q2: How much has Ripple spent on acquisitions this year?
In 2025, Ripple has spent nearly $4 billion acquiring key companies, including prime brokerage, stablecoin payments, treasury management, and crypto custody firms, signaling a major push into institutional finance.
Q3: What is the significance of the SEC’s spot XRP ETF decision?
Approval could unlock billions in fresh institutional capital into XRP, providing a major price catalyst and legitimizing XRP further in the eyes of traditional investors.
Q4: Why is Bitcoin dominance important for XRP price?
Bitcoin’s dominance at 60% means most crypto capital flows into Bitcoin, reducing investment into altcoins like XRP. A lower Bitcoin dominance number usually signals a favorable “alt season” for tokens like XRP.
Q5: How does XRP compare to Solana in transactions per second?
XRP can handle around 1,500 TPS, faster than many blockchains but much lower than Solana’s theoretical 65,000 TPS, raising questions about XRPL’s scalability for mass use.
Risks / What Could Go Wrong
- Regulatory delays or rejections: ETF approval is highly probable but not guaranteed. Any SEC rejection would heavily weigh on price.
- Market liquidity drying: Macro tightening may limit capital for crypto generally.
- Increased competition: Solana and other blockchains could erode XRP’s market share and use cases.
- Technological setbacks: Delays or flaws in XRPL upgrades (like lending protocol) would dampen enthusiasm.
- Psychological selling pressure: Persistent trader behavior of “selling the news” might continue, stalling rallies.
With these dynamics in mind, XRP sits at a crossroads. Fundamentals support higher valuation, but patient investors must navigate external pressures and market psychology. The coming weeks will clarify if XRP’s tipping point is growth or decline.
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry risk and investors should conduct their own research.
By Wolfy Wealth - Empowering crypto investors since 2016
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