Ripple CTO David Schwartz cautions that RippleUSD (RLUSD), the company’s US dollar-pegged stablecoin, may experience initial supply shortages. The possible problems, he said, are large orders and speculative activity, which might lead to price volatility. Despite it’s 1:1, while the rate will be pegged at parity with the US dollar, pre-launch trades have indicated inflated valuations.
RippleUSD Expected to Normalize After Launch
David Schwartz said speculative bidding helped drive early volatility in RLUSD trading. Last month, a transaction on a wallet linked to Ripple made a bid for 1 RLUSD (equal to $1), which was worth 511 XRP, or approximately $1,244. Though this snafu worried some people, Schwartz said the price would normalize around $1 when production ramps up.
According to Ripple, speculative bids and early trades differ from what the stablecoin was supposed to be used for. Schwartz urged users to avoid a ‘speculative buying spree is potentially disruptive for the launch of a stablecoin. ‘ RippleUSD is a product built using central bank digital currencies that seek to keep liquidity and stability in Ripple’s cross-border payments ecosystem alongside the native crypto XRP.
RippleUSD and XRP to Transform Cross-Border Transactions
The upcoming launch of the RippleUSD will come after the New York Department has already approved it of Financial Services on December 11. Ripple hopes the stablecoin will strengthen its cross-border payments network by increasing liquidity while reducing the risks of depegging. XRP will be bridged with RippleUSD, a bridge currency in the company’s ecosystem.
Ripple intends to use XRP’s liquidity to support RLUSD for institutional use cases. CEO Brad Garlinghouse said the stablecoin’s potential is ripe for large financial players to get excited about. Industry analysts believe this is a significant step forward in advancing Ripple’s position in the payment sector.
RippleUSD has XRP in all its forms of networks and has diversified into different parts of the globe via exchanges. Hence, more Ripples in the network will raise the RLUSD rates. Ripple President Monica Long said RLUSD’s design fits with and improves on how XRP enables transactions. The dual approach aims to make cross-border payments faster, cheaper, and more efficient.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse Faces Criticism Over Trump Meeting
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse, meanwhile, faced criticism for Justin Sun’s claims that he was promoting XRP and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) at a rumoured meeting with President-elect Donald Trump. Critics soon sprang up, suggesting that a big company like Ripple wasn’t using the meeting to promote its projects but instead using it as an opportunity to push its coin forward.
Garlinghouse neither confirmed nor denied that a meeting took place. However, he welcomed the new administration’s crypto-friendly stance. He said that Trump’s election and promise to remove SEC chairman Gary Gensler played to recent market enthusiasm. However, Garlinghouse said the aggressive enforcement actions taken by the SEC under Gensler have stifled crypto innovation in the U.S.
Ripple’s leadership thinks a changed regulatory approach could spur the U.S. crypto industry. As Garlinghouse pointed out, Trump’s crypto-friendly policies may have created some opportunities for blockchain development and financial innovation. The developments come as part of Ripple’s broader campaigns to increase its reach in global payments and digital asset adoption.
Conclusion
The launch of RippleUSD is an important step in Ripple’s payments strategy. However, early supply challenges may result in transitory instability. Ripple is still keen on integrating the stablecoin with XRP to enable liquidity and drive institutional adoption.
FAQs
What is RippleUSD (RLUSD)?
RippleUSD is Ripple’s US dollar-pegged stablecoin designed to support cross-border payments and maintain liquidity.
Will RippleUSD maintain its $1 parity?
RippleUSD is designed to maintain a 1:1 parity with the US dollar as supply stabilizes.
How does RippleUSD integrate with XRP?
RippleUSD will use XRP’s liquidity as a bridge currency to support its ecosystem and enhance cross-border transactions.
