What is XRP? An introduction to Ripple's native token

Cryptocurrencies are shaking up the financial world, offering new ways to transfer money, cut out third parties, and open up new opportunities. Among the many digital currencies out there, XRP is one that stands out because of its unique technology and use cases.

If you’ve heard of XRP, chances are you've also heard of Ripple. While the two are closely linked, they're not exactly the same. Ripple, the company behind XRP, has stirred the pot in the crypto space more than once, and is backed by a community of very passionate fans and a range of opinions on how it should develop. 

At the same time, there is massive resistance from the crypto purists who view XRP, initially developed by Ripple Labs, as a centrally controlled project.

In this article, we explore what XRP is, how it works, what it's used for, along with some of the challenges it faces.

What is XRP?

XRP is a digital currency designed for fast, low-cost cross-border payments. It runs on the XRP Ledger, a decentralized blockchain that uses a unique consensus mechanism to validate transactions. While Ripple promotes XRP's adoption, the cryptocurrency operates independently from the company.

XRP is designed to work as a bridging currency, allowing quick and seamless transfer between other currencies. This means that it can be used to convert money from one currency to another without going through the usual buying and selling process on traditional exchanges.

But why focus on international payment solutions? Well, sending money to other countries can be arduous and time-consuming, with delivery of funds often requiring up to several business days. XRP Ledger (XRPL) was founded with a vision to solve this problem in a manner suitable for banks and large institutions.

XRP vs Ripple: What’s the difference?

A lot of people mix up XRP and Ripple, so let's clear that up:

• XRP: XRP is the digital currency that runs on the XRP Ledger, an open-source blockchain designed to handle fast transactions.
• Ripple: Ripple is a company that created and promotes XRP and also develops payment solutions for banks and other institutions.

Again, it bears repeating: XRP is technically not Ripple. But since Ripple Labs created XRP and has held a significant amount of XRP tokens, it is often referred to as "Ripple".

XRP Ledger Foundation, a non-profit organization, also plays a significant role in promoting the XRPL project. While Ripple Labs is still an actor in the development of the blockchain, along with other members of the XRPL Foundation, the project is now decentralized and open-source.

History of XRP

Ripple Labs and XRP have had an interesting journey, starting with XRP’s creation in 2012 by Jed McCaleb, Arthur Britto, and Chris Larsen. Initially launching as NewCoin (and then Opencoin), their aim was to create a real-time gross settlement system (RTGS) that could be used by banks and financial institutions to quickly transfer money between countries, faster than Bitcoin transactions and their slow transaction confirmations.

Thus, the XRP Ledger was created as a real-time gross settlement system, currency exchange, and remittance network. XRP, its native token, has primarily served as an intermediary between other cryptocurrencies and fiat currencies.

How does XRP work?

XRP Ledger: The technology behind XRP

At the heart of XRP is the XRP Ledger (XRPL), a blockchain that’s designed to support fast, secure transactions. Unlike other blockchains that rely on mining (like Bitcoin’s Proof-of-Work system), XRP uses a different, more efficient method to process transactions.

The XRP Ledger isn’t just for XRP, either. Unlike other blockchains that are built to transfer value only in their native token, the XRP Ledger can transfer value in any form of a digital asset.

Enterprise solutions

While the XRP blockchain is suitable for individual users, XRP Ledger also offers businesses and financial institutions several advantages over existing payment networks. The most significant advantage is that XRP transactions can be completed quickly (less than five seconds) and efficiently, reducing the time it takes to move money across borders.

The Ripple network also offers low transaction costs (0.00001 XRP per transaction), meaning companies and institutions can transfer money cheaper than with traditional methods. This could be particularly useful for larger transfers, such as those between banks or other large organizations.

XRP's consensus mechanism

The consensus algorithm that powers XRP is unique.

Unlike most cryptocurrencies that use Proof-of-Work or Proof-of-Stake as their consensus model, XRPL uses what’s called a Unique Node List (UNL). With UNL, essentially a list of trusted validator nodes is approved by Ripple to verify transactions and maintain the distributed ledger.

Though this model is faster and less energy-intensive than other cryptocurrencies, XRPL has been highly criticized for its level of centralization; the UNL nodes are owned by Ripple Labs, allowing them to have complete control over who validates transactions. This goes against the decentralization ethos of blockchain, making many crypto-purists wary of XRP.

Speed and scalability

XRP is well-known for its speed. Transactions settle in 3 to 5 seconds, and the XRP Ledger can handle up to 1,500 transactions per second (TPS). To put that into perspective, Bitcoin can only process about 7 TPS, and Ethereum can handle roughly 25-30 TPS.

How XRP transactions lower costs

Another thing about XRP is that it’s cheap for anyone to use. Traditional payment methods—especially for cross-border transactions—are slow and expensive because they rely on multiple intermediaries. XRP cuts those middlemen out of the process. Its average transaction cost is less than $0.001, which is much less than the fees you’d pay for international wire transfers or even certain credit card payments.

What is XRP used for?

XRP has a wide range of practical applications, both inside and out of the web3 ecosystem:

Cross-border payments

The main reason XRP was created is to make cross-border remittances and payments faster and cheaper. Normally, sending money internationally involves multiple banks, currency conversions, and long wait times.

XRP simplifies this by acting as a bridge currency. For example, let's say someone in the U.S. wants to send money to someone in Portugal. By choosing to use cryptocurrency like XRP, they could convert USD to XRP (or simply buy XRP), transfer the tokens to their friend, and then convert it to euros. This process takes minutes, compared to slow and costly middlemen and money transfer services.

Liquidity provider for financial institutions

XRP also serves as an on-demand liquidity (ODL) provider for financial institutions. Ripple has partnered with banks, payment providers, and companies like Amazon through its RippleNet network. By using XRP, banks don’t need to keep large amounts of foreign currency on hand in various countries. Instead, they can use XRP to source liquidity in real-time, freeing up capital that would otherwise be tied up in reserves.

Digital asset and cryptocurrency

Beyond its use in payments, XRP is also a digital asset that can be held in an XRP cryptocurrency wallet. Over the years, it has maintained a steady presence within the broader crypto ecosystem, boosted by a market capitalization in the billions.

However, before investing in XRP or any cryptocurrency, users should be aware that cryptocurrencies are subject to price volatility, both in the short and long term.

Decentralized finance (DeFi)

XRP has also found a place in decentralized finance (DeFi). Several DeFi platforms allow users to trade XRP, use it as collateral, or lend and borrow against it. On top of that, the XRP Ledger has built-in decentralized exchange (DEX) functionality, allowing users to trade assets without relying on a centralized platform.

Advantages of XRP

XRP offers several key advantages that set it apart from other crypto tokens:

Fast transaction settlements

One of XRP’s most significant advantages is its speed. Transactions settle in just a few seconds, making it faster than traditional bank transfers or other cryptocurrencies. If you’ve ever waited for a Bitcoin or Ethereum transaction to confirm, you'll know how important speed can be.

Low transaction fees

Another advantage of XRP is its low fees. On average, a transaction costs less than $0.001, making it suitable for everything from micropayments to large-scale international transfers.

Energy efficiency

Unlike Bitcoin or Litecoin, XRP’s consensus algorithm doesn’t require heavy-duty mining, which means it’s much more energy-efficient. This makes XRP a more viable option to those who are environmentally conscious or who are looking for more sustainable blockchain solutions.

Scalability

The XRP Ledger is highly scalable, handling up to 1,500 transactions per second. As the demand for faster payment systems grows, XRP’s ability to process large volumes of transactions fits within its goal of usage for international transfers.

Interoperability

XRP works with other payment networks and blockchains, which makes it easier to integrate into existing systems. This interoperability allows businesses and institutions to adopt XRP without overhauling their existing infrastructure.

Multi-currency support

You can transfer a variety of currencies across the XRP Ledger, not just XRP. This feature simplifies cross-border transactions with seamless transfers between different currencies, reducing the need for intermediaries in the exchange process.

Challenges and risks of XRP

Despite its many advantages, XRP faces several risks and challenges that could impact its future adoption and stability.

Regulatory uncertainty

One of the biggest hurdles XRP faces is regulatory uncertainty. Governments around the world are still figuring out how to classify and regulate cryptocurrencies, and XRP has found itself at the center of some court cases, especially in the U.S.

The SEC lawsuit against Ripple

In December 2020, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged Ripple Labs with selling XRP tokens in an unregistered securities offering. Ripple fought back, saying XRP is not a security but rather a digital currency.

After several years of back and forth, a 2023 court ruling by Judge Analisa Torres of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York stated that secondary sales of XRP to retail investors did not constitute securities transactions. However, the same judge found that Ripple’s sales of XRP to institutional investors pursuant to written contracts constituted unregistered investment contracts, resulting in a $125 million civil fine for Ripple.

Despite hopes for a quick resolution, the Ripple lawsuit remains ongoing, with new developments continuing to shape the future of Ripple and XRP. The outcome is especially critical in the U.S. If XRP is classified as a security, it could face stricter regulations, limiting its availability and use.

Centralization concerns

While the XRP Ledger is decentralized in terms of validating transactions, some critics argue that Ripple’s control over the supply of XRP raises concerns about centralization. Ripple holds a significant amount of XRP in escrow accounts and releases it periodically, which has led some to question whether XRP is truly as decentralized as other cryptocurrencies.

Market volatility

Like other cryptocurrency tokens, XRP is highly volatile. The XRP price can change drastically based on news, regulatory updates, or general market sentiment. This makes it a risky asset for cautious investors, as its value can swing significantly in a short period of time.

Competition

XRP is up against other players in the blockchain space, particularly with global payment system providers. Stellar (XLM) and even traditional financial solutions act as competitors that offer similar solutions, potentially limiting the ultimate success of Ripple.

Adoption barriers

While Ripple has partnered with many financial entities, broader adoption of XRP in everyday transactions is still limited. The challenge lies in convincing businesses and consumers to integrate XRP into their daily financial operations, where traditional payment methods still dominate.

XRP Ledger’s endgame: “Internet of value”

The concept of the "internet of value" stems from the hypothesis that anything of value can be traded. Within the context of XRP Ledger, this is shown by XRPL's ability to allow any type of digital asset trading across borders.

This has led to XRP Ledger becoming a widely-used platform for international transfers, with the XRP token generally ranking in the top 10 of all cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. With its decentralized consensus mechanism, low transaction costs, and fast settlement times, the platform is used by individuals, businesses, and financial organizations all over the world.

Today, most banks rely on a centralized entity, the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), for cross-border settlement. But SWIFT can be slow, often taking days before the receiving party's account gets their funds.

With XRP Ledger, institutional players can save time and money by transferring value quickly and cheaply, enabling them to be more competitive in the global market. This could transform how banks operate today and make transactions faster, cheaper, and more convenient.

Until things cool off between Ripple Labs and the SEC, however, widespread adoption of the project by enterprises will likely be hampered.

Explore the XRP ecosystem with MoonPay

XRP offers a unique blend of speed, efficiency, and scalability, making it a valuable player in the world of digital assets and cross-border payments. Whether you’re looking to send money internationally, "HODL" XRP in an XRP wallet, or dive into decentralized finance, XRP could have plenty to offer.

MoonPay makes it easy to buy XRP, manage your tokens, and then sell XRP when you decide it's time to cash out. Just enter the amount of XRP you wish to purchase, using a credit card, Apple Pay, PayPal, and many other preferred payment methods.

Want to get top up on XRP even faster? Simply purchase XRP directly from your MoonPay XRP account for a smoother checkout experience in just one click! You can also purchase XRP with MoonPay Balance for even quicker transactions, higher approval rates, and zero-fee withdrawals to your bank account when you cash out.