Global payments are no longer reliant on traditional methods; financial institutions are increasingly favoring faster, more cost-effective alternatives like the XRP Ledger (XRPL). SWIFT, once the backbone of international banking with annual transaction volumes exceeding $150 trillion, has seen a 15% decrease. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse predicts XRPL could capture up to 14% of that, equivalent to more than $21 trillion, within five years.

XRPL Activity Hits Record High

The data on the blockchain demonstrates this growing interest. Daily XRPL transactions have now exceeded 830,000, with over 29,000 active addresses and more than 10,000 unique traders. The trading volume on the XRPL decentralized exchange (DEX) has recently surpassed the $12 million mark, while meme coin trading brought in $6.25 million. Stablecoin trading remains stable at around $5.6 million. These figures emphasize a sudden surge in liquidity and interaction across the ecosystem.

What’s Going On Inside?

The launch of the EVM-compatible XRPL sidechain on June 30 has created new momentum. In just one week, over 1,400 smart contracts have been deployed and more than 1,300 contracts are still active to date.

The expansion into DeFi and broader smart contract functionality is reinforcing XRPL's role beyond mere cross-border payments, attracting developers and new use cases for institutions.

Furthermore, Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin aims to penetrate and dominate the massive global remittance sector. As RLUSD becomes increasingly utilized in payments and decentralized finance, it will add stable trading volume to XRPL, driving the demand for XRP and increasing on-chain liquidity.

Analyst Paul Barron calls Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin a game changer, emphasizing that it meets the stringent requirements of the GENIUS Act, such as 1:1 reserves and monthly audits. He notes that every RLUSD transaction on the XRP Ledger burns XRP, reducing supply and increasing deflationary pressure. With growing interest from institutions, Barron stated that XRP is positioning itself as the backbone of a regulated digital payment system.

From a Technical Perspective, Will Prices Surge?

Cryptocurrency expert The Great Mattsby highlights a bullish technical setup for XRP. The monthly Bollinger Bands are expanding, a signal seen last before XRP's historic 1,300% price surge in 2017. His Gann-based analysis currently places XRP's price target at around $45, marking a potential breakout similar to that.

With the shift towards XRPL by institutions, increased real-world adoption, expanded DeFi activity, and strong technical signals, experts believe XRP is poised for a significant price surge. If forecasts are correct, XRP may be entering a new growth phase, similar to or even surpassing the 2017 cycle.