XRPXRP
A digital asset built to move money between banks — and a landmark legal case.
30-day price
Where the chart sits — description, not prediction
Trading below both its 50-day ($1.11) and 200-day ($1.38) averages — the longer-term trend reads as down. 30-day range $1.04–$1.16; currently in the lower third of that range. RSI(14) 36 — momentum weak.
Computed from daily closing prices (CoinGecko), July 28, 2026. Compare all coins →
What is XRP?
XRP is a cryptocurrency designed for a specific job: moving value between currencies and institutions quickly and cheaply. It runs on the XRP Ledger, an open blockchain that settles transactions in three to five seconds for a fraction of a cent. The idea is to act as a "bridge currency" — a neutral asset a bank can use to convert one fiat currency into another without holding pre-funded accounts all over the world.
XRP was created in 2012 by a team including David Schwartz, Jed McCaleb, and Arthur Britto, alongside the company now known as Ripple. Unlike Bitcoin, XRP was not mined — all 100 billion tokens were created at the start, with a large portion held by Ripple and released from escrow on a schedule. That centralised distribution is the most common criticism levelled at XRP.
Ripple's strategy has always been to work with the existing financial system rather than replace it, partnering with banks and payment providers. That positioning is also why XRP became the subject of one of crypto's most consequential legal battles with US regulators.
What has moved XRP
2017-18 — the first surge
Amid the broader crypto mania, XRP rocketed to an all-time high around $3.40 in early 2018, briefly making it one of the most valuable cryptocurrencies — then fell more than 90% as the bubble burst.
Dec 2020 — the SEC lawsuit
US regulators sued Ripple, alleging XRP was an unregistered security. Major US exchanges delisted it and the price collapsed, beginning years of legal limbo.
2023 — the partial win
A court ruled that XRP sold on public exchanges was not a security, a mixed but landmark result that lifted the price and was widely watched across the industry.
2025 — the case ends
Ripple and the SEC dropped their appeals in 2025, settling for a fraction of the original penalty. With the cloud lifted, XRP climbed to a new record high above its 2018 peak.
2025-26 — ETFs and pullback
Spot XRP ETFs launched following the legal resolution, before the market-wide correction into 2026 pulled XRP back with the rest of the sector.
Notable moments
Older than most of crypto
XRP predates Ethereum and most of today's major coins — its ledger launched in 2012, making it one of the oldest cryptocurrencies still in heavy use.
The army
XRP has one of the most vocal online followings in crypto, the self-styled "XRP Army," known for fiercely defending the asset throughout its years-long legal saga.
A co-founder who left to compete
Co-creator Jed McCaleb went on to found a rival payments-focused project, Stellar — and his gradual sale of a huge XRP holding was watched closely by the market for years.
Common questions
Is XRP the same as Ripple?
No. Ripple is the company; XRP is the digital asset. Ripple uses XRP in some products but the XRP Ledger is maintained by independent validators.
What is XRP for?
Fast, low-cost cross-border payments — acting as a bridge currency so institutions can move value between different fiat currencies in seconds.
What happened with the SEC?
The SEC sued Ripple in 2020 alleging XRP was an unregistered security. After a mixed 2023 ruling, both sides dropped their appeals in 2025 and settled, ending the case.