A fresh debate is unfolding in the $XRP community about whether global banks could realistically adopt $XRP, given Ripple’s massive token holdings.
$XRP commentator Mason Versluis raised the question on X. He noted that if $XRP’s price were to surge significantly, Ripple, holding 38 billion tokens, could become one of the most powerful financial entities in the world.
According to Versluis, this scenario may not sit well with traditional banking institutions, meaning large-scale adoption of $XRP might not align with their interests.
Key Points
- $XRP adoption by banks may be limited due to Ripple’s massive 38B token holdings.
- Banks scrutinize $XRP’s market, distribution, and volatility before any adoption.
- Stablecoins like $RLUSD may offer banks more practical, predictable payment options.
- $XRP’s role could shift from global bridge currency to broader blockchain ecosystem use.
Banks, Due Diligence, and the $XRP Question
Versluis emphasized that global banks don’t make decisions lightly. Adopting a cryptocurrency like $XRP involves scrutiny not just of the technology, but also of its market structure, token distribution, and public perception.
Banks evaluating $XRP would consider several factors:
- Large retail holder participation
- Speculative narratives and price predictions
- Ripple’s significant token control
The core question is whether the utility $XRP offers, such as fast, low-cost cross-border transactions, is compelling enough for institutions to overlook these concerns.
Notably, Ripple’s combined escrow holdings (33.5 billion) and spendable wallet (5 billion tokens) amount to 38.5 billion tokens. Accordingly, if $XRP’s price were to reach $30 per coin, Ripple’s holdings would total $1.14 trillion. By comparison, today the value stands at $51.3 billion.
In other words, $XRP price appreciation gives Ripple extraordinary financial power that may not sit well with industry rivals.
Versluis urged investors to rethink assumptions and avoid becoming overly emotionally attached to bullish price expectations.
Stablecoins Like $RLUSD Enter the Conversation
Panos Mekras, CEO of Anodos Finance, joined the conversation and suggested that banks may not adopt $XRP for payments at all. He added that Ripple itself recognized this, which partly explains why the company launched the $RLUSD stablecoin in December 2024.
Mekras believes stablecoins such as $RLUSD offer a more practical solution for banks’ payment needs. Stablecoins maintain a fixed value, making them predictable and less volatile.
From this perspective, $XRP’s role may not be as a direct “banking tool,” but rather as part of a broader blockchain ecosystem.
They won’t. Ripple understood that too, that’s why they created $RLUSD. Stablecoins are a much better instrument for payments, and $XRP‘s role goes back to the origins. I think we should stop pushing $XRP as the “banking tool”, $XRP is much more than that.https://t.co/qDvNyqhQ2q
— Panos 🔼🇬🇷 (@panosmek) April 1, 2026
Is $XRP’s Global Bridge Currency Narrative Shifting?
Versluis further questioned whether $XRP is moving away from its original idea as a global bridge currency. If stablecoins begin handling most payment flows, $XRP may need to compete more directly with other blockchains based on real-world use, adoption, and developer activity.
This raises questions about whether $XRP is still intended to be a key part of global finance, or if its role is evolving alongside new products like $RLUSD.
Within the $XRP community, opinions remain split. Some still believe in large-scale institutional adoption, while others advocate for a more realistic understanding of how banks operate.
