Is XRP's True Home 'Europe'?...Examining Ripple's Inside Story of Leaving the US

▲ Ripple, XRP, Europe/AI generated image

Ripple is accelerating the expansion of the XRP ecosystem by making Europe its core hub, leaving behind the regulatory uncertainties of the US market.

According to a report by U.Today, a virtual asset media outlet, on April 28 (local time), Cassie Craddock, Ripple's Managing Director for UK and Europe, declared that Europe will be XRP's true home by 2026. This statement, made during a Ripple conference in Las Vegas, USA, suggests that the US-centric dominance in virtual assets is shifting to Europe. Craddock emphasized that Europe's operational maturity is surpassing that of the US, which is mired in regulatory deadlock.

The biggest competitive advantage of the European market lies in the completeness of its institutional infrastructure. While legal battles with regulatory authorities remain a major topic in the US, Europe has already entered the phase of practical service implementation. Craddock stated, "Digital asset adoption has moved beyond pilot operations to actual production, and nowhere demonstrates this more clearly than Europe." With the completion of infrastructure build-out based on Ripple's custody solutions, payment and tokenization strategies are being put into practice.

Collaboration with Italian financial giant Intesa Sanpaolo is a key example demonstrating the maturity of the European market. As major banks integrate Ripple's custody technology, large-scale financial operations utilizing XRP have become possible. Craddock pointed out that digital asset strategies without robust custody infrastructure carry significant practical risks. Europe has already built an infrastructure layer that internalizes security and compliance monitoring systems, supporting the rapid operations of institutions.

While the US market garners attention with its massive capital and large-scale conferences, Europe has achieved substantial institutional growth. Market experts analyze that Europe, having secured regulatory clarity, offers greater trust to institutional investors. 2026 is expected to be the inaugural year when Europe's built infrastructure bears fruit and seizes leadership in the virtual asset market. Based on its robust European foundation, Ripple is setting new standards for global virtual asset finance.

Ripple's strategic shift in focus serves as a new milestone for companies disappointed by the pace of regulatory change in the US. Europe has created an environment where companies can conduct predictable business activities through the proactive introduction of legislation such as MiCA. Craddock's statement formalizes that these policy advantages are translating into actual business results. The virtual asset industry is watching whether the operational innovation originating in Europe will spread across the global market. It will be a major turning point for activation. Authorities will decide on final approval after a public review period.

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