$XRP XRP is the native cryptocurrency of the Ripple network, a platform designed to facilitate fast and low-cost international payments. Unlike Bitcoin or Ethereum, XRP is not based on mining, but on a consensus mechanism called the Ripple Protocol Consensus Algorithm (RPCA), which allows transactions to be validated in seconds with minimal costs.

Ripple, the company behind XRP, has developed solutions for financial institutions, promoting the adoption of XRP as a bridge between different fiat currencies. However, XRP has faced legal challenges, especially with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which in 2020 sued Ripple for the alleged unregistered sale of securities. Despite this, XRP remains one of the most used cryptocurrencies for cross-border transfers due to its speed, scalability, and low energy demand.