Ripple is stealing the spotlight again, this time from its Swell 2025 announcements, with new partnerships with Mastercard, WebBank, and Gemini for stablecoin settlements using RLUSD. 

As the blockchain firm expands its real-world payment utility, a new narrative is emerging that could redefine XRP’s long-term role.

A bold new projection from finance commentator Zach Rector has sparked major discussion across the crypto community this week, as he claims XRP could play a central role in a $30 trillion market opportunity driven by the tokenization of real-world assets.

According to Rector, the next decade could see $20–30 trillion worth of assets, including real estate, stocks, bonds, and commodities, moving onto blockchains. He cites estimates from Ripple and Boston Consulting Group (BCG), which project between $12 and $23 trillion in tokenized assets by 2033.

“Tokenization is the single greatest opportunity in all of finance, second only to global payments,” Rector said, adding that XRP could serve as the liquidity bridge connecting tokenized assets to traditional money flows.

From Payments to Tokenization Infrastructure

While XRP is widely known for enabling cross-border payments, Rector believes the next major evolution lies in providing liquidity for tokenized assets, effectively turning the XRP Ledger (XRPL) into the plumbing of a new financial system.

Recent developments seem to support that vision. The XRP Ledger has started attracting top-tier financial institutions such as BlackRock and VanEck, reportedly exploring the tokenization of money market funds through a firm called Scrutinize. The initiative utilizes a token named RLUSD (Ripple USD) to facilitate on-chain redemptions, marking one of the first major steps toward institutional-grade financial products on XRPL.

Ripple’s Expanding Ecosystem

Ripple has been quietly strengthening its institutional presence through key acquisitions:

• G-Treasury is linking Ripple to thousands of banks and corporate financial networks worldwide.
• Hidden Road, rebranded as Ripple Prime – a prime brokerage platform serving institutional clients, which plans to settle trades on the XRP Ledger.

These moves position Ripple to handle post-trade settlement transactions involving potentially trillions in value at minimal cost and near-instant speed.

• Also Read :
•   XRP News Today: Evernorth Moves 126M XRP Ahead of Nasdaq XRPN Listing
•   ,

Regulation and the Path Ahead

Rector also emphasized the role of upcoming regulations, particularly the proposed Clarity Act in the U.S., which aims to define digital assets and remove uncertainty for institutional adoption. He believes that once these frameworks are in place, banks, hedge funds, and fintech firms could begin using XRPL for decentralized finance (DeFi), including lending, trading, and token issuance.

Still, Rector cautions investors against assuming tokenization alone will drive XRP’s price.

“Liquidity and real usage, not just the presence of tokens, will determine XRP’s true demand,” he noted.

While some in the community remain skeptical, others view these developments as part of a long-term structural transformation rather than short-term hype. The convergence of traditional finance and blockchain-based infrastructure is becoming increasingly evident, with XRP potentially at the heart of that integration.

If even a fraction of this projected $30 trillion shift flows through the XRP Ledger, the implications for both XRP holders and the broader financial landscape could be profound.

As the world edges closer to a tokenized economy, XRP appears to be quietly building the foundation for what may become the next major evolution in digital finance.

FAQs

Trust with CoinPedia:

CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.

Investment Disclaimer:

All opinions and insights shared represent the author’s own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.

Sponsored and Advertisements:

Sponsored content and affiliate links may appear on our site. Advertisements are marked clearly, and our editorial content remains entirely independent from our ad partners.