XRP is the world’s fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market cap. It recently topped $US2.18 and has been stable since about April this year despite the wild fluctuations of the digital asset market. With a market capitalization over $US128 billion, XRP is fourth in total value, behind only Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether. This performance comes at a time of much speculation about future growth and increased utility, putting it at center stage for many investors.

Since the start of 2025, XRP has surged by 8.7%. Its value is up an astounding 376% compared to this time last year, too. This remarkable growth is an evident manifestation of rising interest and confidence in XRP’s potential, particularly in relation to its role within future payment infrastructures.

The long-term price of XRP is directly linked to its utility as a payment infrastructure. Experts are expecting to see a tremendous increase in its use when the Genius Act passes. This legislation will make it easier to integrate it into wider networks of software. Ripple Labs’ business strategy to embed XRP into new software infrastructure networks further adds to its continued worth.

XRP is unique in that it has a non-inflationary supply of 100 billion, all of which were “pre-mined” at inception. This set-in-stone supply is different from cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin, that utilize mining or other consumption-based mechanisms to release new coins into circulation.

When November 2024 rolled around, the cryptocurrency became worth a fortune. This increase was driven largely by speculation that its new CEO would be the first to meet with then President – elect Donald Trump. Speculation fueled XRP’s price increase from $0.50 all the way up to $3.30 by January 2025. This recent surge illustrates just how deeply investor sentiment can impact the digital dollar’s valuation.

The value of XRP declined following this peak, correcting by more than 37% from its January 2018 peak of $US3.20 in early April. Such a decline highlights the extreme volatility that comes with the crypto-industry and represents a key reminder for investors about sudden price drops.

XRP hit a high of $US2.18 at one point today. It has displayed remarkable calm since April, indicating a period of consolidation after a period of volatility. Such stability, if maintained, may indicate a developing market understanding of XRP’s intrinsic value and long term market applications.

Dave Weisberger, an industry expert, highlighted the importance of XRP's utility in payment infrastructures and the potential impact of regulatory developments.

"Its price is based on its usage in payments infrastructure, which should get a boost when the Genius Act is passed, as well as ongoing work by Ripple Labs to embed it into new software networks." - Dave Weisberger

Weisberger made a real-world connection to the dangers of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) for tokens that are actually utilities, including XRP.

"I think ETFs will be granted on all utility tokens as will index ETFs within the next year. This will provide investors access to the product, but it is widely anticipated already – in other words it’s likely priced in." - Dave Weisberger

Market observer Glen Goodman described the relationship between rising prices and supply on crypto exchanges as a “feed back loop of FOMO and supply squeezes.”

"Often as the price of a crypto starts rising, supply magically appears on the exchanges, as holders decide to cash in, rushing back to deposit their crypto holdings on the exchanges." - Glen Goodman

This important but non-obvious observation means that as prices go up, the selling pressure on the market becomes greater, profoundly impacting market dynamics.

XRP is still a speculative and volatile investment. It is also subject to the same volatile forces that affect all digital assets. In conclusion, while AI presents exciting investment opportunities, investors should stay vigilant to the associated risks and research extensively before investing.