XRP , the native cryptocurrency of Ripple, has experienced a wild recent ride, with whales unloading more than 70 million XRP tokens in just 96 hours. Nevertheless, XRP finished off the month of January at an all-time high of $3.0359, a definitive show of market confidence in the long-term potential of this asset. The large investor sell-off has put some short-term price pressure on the token. Still, with much-talked-about “fundamentals,” XRP is said to remain on the track for mass adoption and increased utility in the years to come. BREAKING: #XRP recorded its highest-ever closing in January, having closed the month at $3.0359! pic.twitter.com/4Lh0SPwXnG — JackTheRippler © (@RippleXrpie) February 1, 2025 XRP’s Record High and Strong ETF Approval Odds XRP reached a notable peak in January, closing the month at an all-time high, $3.0359. This stunning close has revived retail and institutional interest in XRP, indicative of renewed vigor for the cryptocurrency not just in the XRP-verse but also in the broader cryptocurrency market. Concurrently, the chances of a Ripple XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) being sanctioned this year are increasing to new highs. Experts are now estimating an 82% probability of approval, a number that indicates a high level of optimism for the asset’s future. Were the ETF to be given the green light, it could unleash a wave of institutional investment that would almost assuredly send XRP’s price soaring. If an XRP ETF gains approval, it would constitute a significant advancement for Ripple and the users of its products, stamping XRP with the quality of being an asset that can be confidently held by institutions and regulated in a clear manner. More broadly, the approval of an XRP ETF would be a bullish sign for the acceptance of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology by the financial system. Odds a Ripple $XRP ETF is approved this year are approaching all-time highs. 82% chance. pic.twitter.com/NYrjt48UQl — Polymarket (@Polymarket) January 31, 2025 Mass Adoption and Ripple’s Global Impact XRP is increasingly becoming relevant as a bridge currency, with mass adoption taking place over the XRP Ledger (XRPL). Ripple’s vision of making XRP a global reserve currency and an intermediary to facilitate the seamless exchange of currencies is starting to materialize. One of the most meaningful events in the recent past is Japan’s decision to adopt XRP as part of its national financial framework. Every bank in Japan will start utilizing Ripple’s XRP cryptocurrency next week, reports say—that’s the monumental step Ripple just took on its way to becoming the financial system’s next big thing. And if this series of events carries as much significance and weight as it seems to, we might want to ask why XRP, and not Bitcoin, is headed to Japan’s banks. BOOOOOOOOOOOOM #RIPPLE is ranked #1 for CBDC’s #XRP to become a world reserve currency and a bridge to interoperate with other currencies. Mass adoption is absolutely happening through the #XRPL . pic.twitter.com/9CwlF2RN8H — XRP Avengers (@XRP_Avengers) February 1, 2025 Japan’s move also underscores Ripple’s burgeoning prominence in the worldwide financial arena. The decision of the banks in that country to use XRP for their operations could prompt other nations and financial entities to do likewise, especially with the rising clamor for swifter, less costly, and more efficient means of engaging in cross-border transactions. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! Japan's financial landscape, indicating that every bank in the country will begin utilizing Ripple's $XRP cryptocurrency next week. pic.twitter.com/KIGkczC7et — Brett (@Brett_Crypto_X) February 1, 2025 Whale Sell-Off and the Challenges Ahead for XRP Even though there have been good reports about the growth of XRP, some investors have become uneasy about recent price swings. Over the past 96 hours, however, over 70 million XRP tokens were dumped by whale holders, and this is downward pressure on the price. Large holders tend to sell when prices are high, and these kinds of sales can make the market more volatile. XRP’s fundamentals, by contrast, are relatively unscathed. A strong close in January and an ETF approval probability that’s either increased or just became clearer point to a long-term bullish picture. The market’s natural ebb and flow makes it laughable to consider whale-induced shakedowns a viable short-selling thesis. In the coming weeks, XRP’s price may keep fluctuating, much like it has for the past several months, under the influence of certain large players in the market and those who would sell off their holdings. But the trend overall for XRP seems to be in a very good place, thanks to a number of partnerships, quite a bit of adoption, and a big uptick in interest from institutions. The Road Ahead for Ripple and XRP The next several months will be crucial for XRP as it moves through an increasingly fast-moving market. Two potential developments—the approval of an XRP ETF in the U.S. and Japan’s adoption of Ripple’s technology—are major milestones that could lead to something truly revolutionary: the global adoption of XRP as a bridge currency for payments that instantly cross any border. If that happens, “I think you’re going to see a pretty substantial increase in value,” said Tim Davis, an Ashtabula-based investment advisor who keeps an eye on Ripple and XRP. The present instability in the market may give investors the chance to buy XRP at lower prices before the first major step in the digital asset’s journey—to financial services—to the real world is taken. As the network grows and new use cases for XRP emerge, its Bone-Structure remains solid, giving no hint of the Break-Up Death Spiral, which HSBC’s Mason Bullard suggests is “the biggest risk to the long-term viability of any digital currency.” In the end, XRP’s odyssey has just commenced. Given an ETF’s imminent approval, the likely transformation of the supposed currency into something we can spend, and the burgeoning interest in XRP from institutions, the next wave of growth for XRP seems to be upon us. And this may well be the wave that captures the currency’s full potential. Disclosure: This is not trading or investment advice. Always do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any services. Follow us on Twitter @nulltxnews to stay updated with the latest Crypto, NFT, AI, Cybersecurity, Distributed Computing, and Metaverse news ! Image Source: peshkov/ 123RF // Image Effects by Colorcinch
