A piece of information alleged to have been leaked by a former Swiss banker has sparked speculation that Ripple is reshaping its role beyond the scope of payments.
If this document is authentic, the NDA agreement suggests that Ripple's infrastructure is being positioned not merely as a money transfer tool, but also playing a larger role in the future financial system.
Secret roadmap: Payment infrastructure linked to digital identity on XRPL?
The anonymous individual known as Lord Belgrave, reportedly a former Swiss banker, shared excerpts from the 'Strategic Cooperation and Confidentiality Agreement'.
The document reveals a significant convergence between finance, digital identity, and legal compliance on the XRP Ledger (XRPL), involving a major bank in Switzerland and a U.S. blockchain infrastructure company.
Notably, the target clause mentions 'biometric identity mapping', a concept that rarely appears in traditional banking agreements. There are also references to tokenized financial instruments, cross-border payments through a protocol-independent system, along with a 'neutral, protocol-independent mechanism' – referring to bridge assets like XRP.
The term 'multi-tier liquidity corridor' also suggests the integration of multiple payment layers including fiat, tokenized securities, and CBDCs within a unified interactive framework.
Digital identity – 'the building block' for Web3 finance?
The mention of biometric identity reflects a harmony with JPMorgan's recent assertion, considering digital identity as an essential foundation for Web3 and financial integration:
'The data structure and commercial relationships in the Web3 era will be vastly different, requiring a leaner, safer, and more reliable authentication method... The time is ripe for a new form of identity, designed for the digital channel, immutable and entirely user-controlled,' - quoting a JPMorgan report.
Ripple is quietly experimenting in the healthcare sector
Ripple, through projects on XRPL, has begun experimenting with payments in healthcare. For example, Wellgistics Health announced a transaction processing system for 6,500 pharmacies in the U.S. thanks to XRPL:
'The program allows for instant product payments and money transfers, transparency, low costs, eliminating delays, high fees, and reliance on banks or credit card networks,' the company stated.
This move has gained attention as BlackRock launched the XDNA ETF on July 4, coinciding with the Trump administration announcing measures to reduce healthcare costs – raising suspicions about a strategy linking healthcare data with on-chain payments.
Ripple at the intersection of politics and practice
At the same time, Ripple continues to expand its global network with partners such as Chipper Cash, Onafriq, and MENA markets, believed to support a 'DNA Protocol' quietly connecting laboratories and healthcare providers in Africa.
Some analysts suggest that Ripple's goal is to establish an identity-linked payment system from the ground up, while supporters view this as an effort to build a 'neutral payment rail for global finance'.
Fundamental challenge: Is XRPL being overvalued?
Despite significant expectations, recent figures show XRPL transaction volume has decreased by 38%, the total value locked (TVL) is only $90 million, while market capitalization reaches $190 billion – a gap too large compared to reality.
This raises the question: Is XRPL an undervalued global infrastructure, or is it an overly risky bet based on unrealized potential?
Ripple has not yet commented on this leaked information.
