Ripple Labs Chief Technology Officer, David Schwartz, has offered rare and pointed clarity on what drives the XRP price value in the long term, despite the company’s recent spotlight on its new stablecoin, RLUSD. In a recent exchange with an XRP supporter on social media, Schwartz emphasized that the crypto continues to sit at the core of Ripple’s payment infrastructure, especially as the main bridge asset in cross-border transfers. XRP’s Role As A Bridge Asset Is Still Central While RLUSD plays a specific role, Schwartz reveals XRP’s utility in real financial use cases will ultimately boost its value. His comments reaffirm Ripple’s longstanding plan for the digital asset, relying on XRP for its proven liquidity and built-in role on the ledger as it explores other digital options. Related Reading: XRP Set To Explode? Analyst Sees $5 Surge Any Moment – Details In his response, Schwartz directly addressed growing speculation that the company may be shifting its attention away from XRP in favor of its new stablecoin, assuring that the digital asset remains Ripple’s cross-currency asset that allows for fast, low-cost currency exchanges. While Schwartz didn’t share exact data, he said he was confident that the token’s usage “dwarfs every other asset” in Ripple’s system. XRP links to how the XRP Ledger functions, so an increase in ledger activity is almost guaranteed to drive more demand for the crypto token, naturally lifting its price value as it becomes more essential in global financial workflows. Schwartz argued that as real-world adoption of the Ripple blockchain networks grows, so will demand for XRP. The embedded demand, as more businesses and developers build on XRPL, is what could be the core driver of XRP’s future price value. Ripple CTO: Stablecoins Support, XRP Sustains Some community members worried that Ripple’s new stablecoin RLUSD, launched in December 2024, could replace the crypto token, but Schwartz clarifies that the stablecoin and XRP serve different purposes. He said stablecoins like RLUSD are better suited for use cases that require a fixed value, such as when companies post collateral or need to enter and exit markets without dealing with large price swings. Related Reading: XRP Blows Cold: Price Crash To $2.15 Still Possible If Buyers Falter Volatility in crypto markets can be disruptive in these scenarios, and stablecoins avoid that issue by holding a steady price. However, Schwartz believes that for most other applications, especially those related to real finance and long-term holdings, digital assets like XRP are still the better choice. He noted that, unless highly risk-averse, most long-term users would likely prefer holding the top digital asset over cash because of their potential for upside and active role in blockchain ecosystems. The Ripple exec added that as more institutions turn to XRPL for financial use cases, XRP’s role in facilitating quick currency movement becomes more vital, particularly in volatile markets where stablecoins may not be ideal.  Schwartz made a subtle but important distinction, saying XRP’s place on XRPL is privileged. With this, the crypto token is less likely to be replaced or worked around, providing a long-term advantage that many other tokens may not have. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView.com Source: newsbtc.com (Read Full Article)

Ethereum (ETH) dropped over 6% in the past 24 hours, sliding to around $3,630 after briefly touching the $3,800 mark. Related Reading: XRP Breakout Targets $15—Analyst Says ‘This Is Just The Start’ The pullback comes after a robust July rally, which saw the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency surge more than 50%, its best monthly gain in three years. Despite the recent dip, on-chain data suggests the uptrend may not be over. Glassnode’s latest analysis points to a potential new all-time high (ATH) of $4,900, fueled by bullish investor sentiment, growing ETF inflows, and rising open interest (OI) in futures markets. Glassnode Points to a $4,900 Ethereum Target According to Glassnode, Ethereum is trading near its March 2024 levels, yet unrealized profits remain comparatively lower. This divergence implies a large upside potential as investors are not yet cashing out, signaling confidence in further gains. The firm’s analysis shows that if unrealized profits reach the same levels as in 2024, ETH would likely climb toward $4,900, marking a new ATH and testing the critical psychological resistance at $5,000. This could reflect a growing shift in how investors treat Ethereum, from a speculative token to a core financial asset. ETH’s price records a small decline on the daily chart. Source: ETHUSD on Tradingview  Open Interest and ETF Demand Reinforce Bullish Outlook Rising open interest further supports Ethereum’s bullish case. Crypto futures data indicates that more traders are opening long positions on ETH, reflecting expectations of further upside. Ethereum’s OI has been a key contributor to the broader altcoin market rebound. Moreover, spot Ethereum ETFs, especially BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum ETF, saw over $4 billion in inflows in July 2025, pushing total ETH ETF holdings to $21.85 billion. The surge underscores Ethereum’s rising status among institutional investors and may amplify future price movements. Related Reading: Coinbase Bitcoin Premium Just Turned Red For The First Time Since May — What This Means With Ethereum facing resistance at $4,000, the convergence of strong technicals, investor optimism, and institutional demand paints a promising outlook. If momentum continues, ETH may soon chart new territory above its previous highs. Cover image from ChatGPT, ETHUSD chart from Tradingview Source: newsbtc.com (Read Full Article)