Rewrite Ripple Co-Founder Chris Larsen: XRP Designed to Outshine Bitcoin
Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen recently emphasized that XRP was created with the goal of improving upon the limitations of Bitcoin. Speaking on the “When Shift Happens” podcast, Larsen highlighted the original vision behind XRP—to offer faster transactions, better efficiency, and significantly lower energy consumption than Bitcoin. This ambition, he noted, was pursued by an exceptionally talented team of developers determined to build a next-generation digital asset.
XRP vs. Bitcoin and Stellar Lumens
Larsen acknowledged Bitcoin’s solid, conservative foundation, yet asserted that XRP represents a more advanced model for cryptocurrency. He also took aim at rival projects, particularly Stellar Lumens. Stellar, co-founded by former Ripple executive Jed McCaleb, was criticized for its inconsistency, namely McCaleb’s decision to destroy about half the token’s supply several years ago, along with frequent airdrops and policy shifts. Larsen argued that stability and clarity are key attributes of successful currencies—qualities he believes Stellar lacks.
He praised XRP’s strong support base, comparing its consistency and community loyalty to that of Bitcoin. In contrast, he questioned Ethereum’s long-term viability, citing uncertainty within its developer and user communities as a potential long-term weakness.
Views on Going Public and Regulatory Challenges
When discussing Ripple’s potential to go public, Larsen voiced his frustrations with the current regulatory hurdles in the U.S., calling the IPO process “overly bureaucratic.” Echoing his sentiment, Ripple President Monica Long has previously said that the company is more focused on strategic acquisitions than raising external capital through a public listing. As an example, Ripple recently acquired prime brokerage firm Hidden Road in a $1.25 billion deal, expanding its capabilities in institutional markets.
Market Outlook for XRP
Larsen’s remarks come amid growing speculation about XRP’s competitive positioning in the crypto space. Industry experts suggest XRP could challenge Bitcoin’s dominance in the future. Edoardo Farina, founder of Alpha Lions Academy, believes XRP has a more realistic growth path compared to Bitcoin.
“You’d have to be insane to think Bitcoin at $106K is a better investment than XRP,” Farina stated.
According to analyst Dustin Layton, a $2,000 investment in XRP could rise to $50,000 by year’s end, reflecting a potential price of $52 per token—a 23x return from its current value of $2.18. Another analyst, Zach Rector, has projected XRP could reach $15 in the near future, depending on market catalysts like ETF involvement and institutional adoption.
Looking Ahead
With ambition to tap into the $7 trillion SWIFT market by 2030, Ripple appears poised to solidify XRP’s role in global finance. As the company expands its reach and institutional offerings, XRP could emerge as a dominant force in the world of digital payments—especially if it delivers on its promises of efficiency, sustainability, and consistent performance.
Ripple’s vision for the future of finance
Ripple’s vision for the future of finance is nothing short of transformative. At the heart of this vision lies XRP, a digital asset purpose-built to revolutionize the way value moves across borders. According to co-founder Chris Larsen, the goal isn’t just to create another cryptocurrency—it’s to rewire the entire global payments infrastructure. Ripple aims to replace legacy systems like SWIFT, which currently facilitates over trillion in daily transfers but is plagued by slow settlement times, high fees, and a lack of transparency.
Chris Larsen has made it clear that Ripple’s strategy is about more than just crypto speculation—it’s about solving real problems in the financial world. Ripple envisions a future where cross-border payments are instant, secure, and cost-effective. And XRP, with its lightning-fast transaction speeds and eco-friendly consensus mechanism, is the engine powering this transformation.
To realize this vision, Ripple is aggressively expanding its global footprint. The company has forged partnerships with over 300 financial institutions worldwide, including banks, payment providers, and fintech firms. These collaborations are designed to integrate RippleNet and On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) solutions, which utilize XRP to eliminate the need for pre-funded nostro accounts. This not only improves liquidity but also frees up billions of dollars currently trapped in inefficient financial pipelines.
Ripple’s roadmap is bold. By 2030, the company aims for XRP to capture a substantial share of the SWIFT market—an ambition underscored by recent acquisitions and institutional partnerships. The acquisition of Hidden Road, a prime brokerage firm, for .25 billion is a testament to Ripple’s commitment to institutional-grade infrastructure. This move strengthens Ripple’s position in the financial ecosystem and signals a pivot toward broader financial services integration.
Key pillars of Ripple’s financial vision include:
- Speed and Efficiency: XRP transactions settle in 3–5 seconds, significantly faster than legacy systems and Bitcoin’s 10-minute block time.
- Scalability: The XRP Ledger can handle 1,500 transactions per second and scales to meet enterprise-level demands.
- Eco-Sustainability: Using a consensus algorithm instead of mining, XRP is over 10,000 times more energy-efficient than Bitcoin.
- Liquidity Optimization: Ripple’s ODL eliminates the need for pre-funded accounts, reducing capital requirements for businesses.
In Larsen’s view, the traditional financial system is ripe for disruption—and XRP is uniquely positioned to lead that charge. He sees a world where financial inclusion is no longer a dream but a reality, where even the unbanked have access to fast, affordable, and reliable financial services. It’s a future built not on hype, but on solving real-world challenges with scalable, sustainable technology.
XRP’s technological advantages over bitcoin
XRP’s Technological Advantages Over Bitcoin
When it comes to raw performance, XRP doesn’t just compete with Bitcoin—it leaves it in the digital dust. Chris Larsen has long maintained that XRP was engineered to overcome the very limitations that continue to hinder Bitcoin’s scalability and utility. And the numbers back him up. Bitcoin, while revolutionary as the first decentralized cryptocurrency, was never designed for high-speed or low-cost transactions. In contrast, XRP was built from the ground up to be a high-throughput, low-latency asset suitable for enterprise-grade financial use.
Let’s break it down:
- Transaction Speed: Bitcoin transactions typically take 10 minutes to confirm, with peak times causing delays of up to an hour. XRP? Just 3 to 5 seconds. For financial institutions processing thousands of transactions per second, that’s not just a perk—it’s a necessity.
- Transaction Costs: Bitcoin’s average transaction fee can soar to several dollars, particularly during periods of congestion. XRP’s average fee? Less than a penny. That makes microtransactions, cross-border remittances, and everyday use not just feasible, but practical.
- Energy Efficiency: Bitcoin’s proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism is notoriously energy-intensive, consuming more electricity annually than some small countries. XRP, by contrast, uses a consensus protocol that doesn’t require mining, making it over 10,000 times more energy-efficient. In an era where ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) compliance is becoming critical for institutional adoption, this is a game-changer.
- Scalability: Bitcoin handles around 7 transactions per second (TPS). XRP? Up to 1,500 TPS, with the potential to scale even higher as demand grows. That’s enterprise-ready performance, right out of the gate.
Larsen often points to these metrics as evidence that XRP is not just faster or cheaper—it’s fundamentally better suited to meet the needs of modern financial infrastructure. He argues that while Bitcoin is “digital gold,” XRP is more like “digital oil”—fluid, fast, and essential for powering the next generation of financial applications.
Another key innovation is the XRP Ledger (XRPL) itself. Unlike Bitcoin’s blockchain, which is prone to congestion and forks, the XRPL is designed for stability and governance. It features built-in features like decentralized exchange capabilities, multi-signing, and issuance of custom tokens. These features allow developers and financial institutions to build complex applications directly on the ledger without needing third-party smart contracts.
Additionally, XRP’s consensus mechanism offers finality in a way that Bitcoin cannot. On the Bitcoin network, transactions are probabilistically final—meaning that the more confirmations you wait for, the more secure the transaction becomes. On the XRPL, once a transaction is validated, it’s final. No rollbacks. No forks. That’s a major advantage for financial institutions that require certainty and speed.
Beyond the tech specs, Larsen also underscores XRP’s design philosophy. While Bitcoin was created as a decentralized alternative to fiat money, XRP was crafted with the cooperation of financial institutions in mind. It doesn’t seek to destroy the banking system—it aims to upgrade it. This cooperative approach has made Ripple a more attractive partner for banks, payment providers, and governments exploring digital currency solutions.
In short, XRP is not trying to be Bitcoin 2.0—it’s trying to be something entirely different: a foundational layer for the future of finance. With its blazing-fast transactions, negligible fees, and eco-friendly infrastructure, XRP sets a new benchmark for what a utility-focused cryptocurrency can achieve.
Market performance and adoption trends
Market Performance and Adoption Trends
While XRP’s technological edge is clear, its performance in the market and real-world adoption offer even more compelling evidence of its rising dominance. Despite regulatory headwinds and public skepticism in earlier years, XRP has made a strong comeback, both in price action and institutional traction. Investors are increasingly viewing XRP not just as a speculative asset, but as a critical utility token with real-world applications—and that sentiment is starting to reflect in the charts.
In 2024, XRP experienced a sharp uptick in trading volume across major exchanges, fueled by renewed confidence in Ripple’s legal standing and expanding global partnerships. According to CoinMarketCap, XRP consistently ranks among the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, often competing with Ethereum and Binance Coin for investor attention. Its liquidity and accessibility have made it a favorite among retail investors and institutional players alike.
Several key trends are emerging that point to XRP’s growing adoption:
- Institutional Integration: Ripple’s On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) service, which leverages XRP to facilitate cross-border payments, has seen exponential growth. Major financial institutions in Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East are adopting ODL to eliminate pre-funding requirements and reduce transaction costs.
- Retail Investor Momentum: Social media sentiment and search volume for XRP have surged, particularly following Ripple’s legal victories against the SEC. Platforms like Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) are buzzing with bullish predictions, with many users pointing to XRP’s “undervalued” status compared to its utility.
- Exchange Listings and Liquidity Pools: XRP is now supported by nearly every major centralized and decentralized exchange, including Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, and Uniswap. This wide availability has made it easier for investors to gain exposure and for developers to integrate XRP into DeFi platforms.
- Global Partnerships: Ripple has inked deals with over 300 financial institutions globally. These include banking giants like Santander, SBI Holdings, and Bank of America, which are actively exploring or piloting XRP-powered payment corridors.
- Remittance Corridors: Ripple’s technology is being used to power remittance services between countries like the Philippines and Japan, where cross-border transfers are common and traditional fees are high. XRP’s speed and cost-effectiveness make it an ideal solution for this 0 billion global remittance market.
From an investor’s perspective, the bullish case for XRP is becoming harder to ignore. Analysts like Dustin Layton project that XRP could reach by the end of the year, translating to a staggering 23x return from its current price point. While such forecasts may sound ambitious, they’re grounded in real-world metrics—XRP’s transaction volume, institutional demand, and technical superiority all support the possibility of a breakout.
Crypto educator and Alpha Lions Academy founder Edoardo Farina adds fuel to the fire by arguing that XRP offers a far more “realistic growth path” than Bitcoin. “You’d have to be insane to think Bitcoin at 6K is a better investment than XRP,” he stated in a recent livestream, citing XRP’s utility-based model and untapped market potential.
Perhaps most telling is the shift in institutional narrative. Where once Bitcoin was the go-to digital asset for hedge funds and corporate treasuries, many are now looking at XRP as a more scalable, ESG-compliant alternative. With the growing emphasis on environmental responsibility and transaction efficiency, XRP is aligning closely with the priorities of modern financial institutions.
As Ripple continues to expand its reach through acquisitions like Hidden Road and strategic collaborations in Europe and Asia, XRP’s footprint in the global payments ecosystem is only expected to grow. The convergence of real-world utility, investor enthusiasm, and institutional support paints a promising picture for XRP’s future market performance—and positions it as a formidable contender in the ongoing crypto revolution.
Regulatory perspectives on XRP and bitcoin
Regulatory Perspectives on XRP and Bitcoin
When it comes to regulation, XRP and Bitcoin occupy very different positions on the crypto chessboard—and Chris Larsen isn’t shy about calling out the disparities. According to Larsen, the regulatory environment in the U.S. has been a major roadblock to innovation, particularly for companies like Ripple that are trying to work within the system. He has repeatedly criticized the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for what he sees as unclear and inconsistent treatment of digital assets, arguing that this uncertainty stifles innovation and forces crypto projects to look overseas for friendlier jurisdictions.
The SEC’s lawsuit against Ripple, initiated in December 2020, has become a defining moment in the regulatory saga of digital assets. The Commission alleged that Ripple’s sale of XRP constituted an unregistered securities offering. Ripple, for its part, has fought back vigorously, maintaining that XRP is a currency, not a security. After years of legal wrangling, the case has seen partial victories for Ripple, with courts ruling that XRP itself is not a security when traded on secondary markets. This pivotal outcome sent shockwaves through the crypto market and reinforced Larsen’s long-held stance that the SEC’s approach is outdated and damaging to U.S. competitiveness.
In contrast, Bitcoin has largely avoided regulatory entanglements in the U.S., thanks in part to its decentralized nature and early classification as a commodity by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). This regulatory clarity has helped Bitcoin gain broader institutional acceptance, with products like Bitcoin ETFs and futures contracts now widely available. Larsen, however, argues that this preferential treatment creates an uneven playing field—one that penalizes innovation and discourages the development of more efficient blockchain technologies like XRP.
From a global perspective, Ripple has found more welcoming regulatory frameworks in regions like the European Union, the United Arab Emirates, and Southeast Asia. These jurisdictions have rolled out comprehensive digital asset regulations that offer clarity and encourage responsible innovation. Ripple has strategically expanded into these markets, establishing regional offices and securing licenses to operate legally and transparently. This forward-thinking approach has allowed Ripple to continue scaling XRP adoption even as U.S. regulators remain gridlocked.
To navigate these challenges, Ripple has taken a proactive stance. The company has invested heavily in legal advocacy, compliance infrastructure, and public policy engagement. It’s also part of several blockchain industry coalitions that aim to influence regulatory policy and educate lawmakers. Larsen has emphasized that clear, consistent rules are essential—not just for Ripple, but for the entire crypto ecosystem. He’s called on U.S. regulators to follow the lead of countries that have successfully implemented digital asset frameworks, warning that failure to do so could result in a “tech exodus” of blockchain talent and capital.
Meanwhile, the regulatory uncertainty hasn’t stopped Ripple from exploring a public listing. While Larsen has criticized the IPO process as “overly bureaucratic,” he hasn’t ruled it out entirely. Ripple President Monica Long has echoed this sentiment, noting that the company is prioritizing strategic acquisitions and global expansion over a U.S.-based IPO for now. This cautious approach reflects the broader hesitation among crypto firms to engage with U.S. capital markets until the regulatory fog clears.
For investors, the regulatory landscape presents both a challenge and an opportunity. While Bitcoin enjoys the benefits of early regulatory acceptance, XRP’s journey through the legal gauntlet could ultimately position it as one of the most battle-tested and compliant digital assets in the market. Should Ripple secure a decisive legal victory and achieve regulatory clarity, XRP could gain a substantial edge over competitors still facing similar scrutiny.
Larsen’s critique is clear: innovation shouldn’t be punished, and regulation shouldn’t be wielded as a blunt instrument. Instead, he envisions a future where smart, adaptive policies support the growth of transformative technologies like XRP—offering legal certainty without stifling progress. Until then, Ripple will continue to push forward, building global alliances and advocating for a regulatory framework that rewards utility, transparency, and real-world impact.