Is long-term investment in XRP possible... or is it still a speculative coin?

▲ Ripple (XRP)

While there are evaluations that XRP (Ripple) could be a long-term investment rather than a mere speculative asset, an analysis suggests that significant time will be required to realize actual profits.

According to investment media The Motley Fool on April 11 (local time), XRP has established itself as a major cryptocurrency with a current market capitalization of approximately $82 billion, but its price remains around $1.35, about 63% lower than its all-time high recorded in July 2025.

Despite this price stagnation, the underlying infrastructure is being strengthened. Ripple acquired companies throughout 2025, investing approximately $2.4 billion, and notably built a financial platform integrating payment, liquidity, and custody functions, including the prime brokerage firm 'Hidden Road,' valued at around $1.2 billion. This is seen as XRPL evolving into a comprehensive financial infrastructure targeting banks and financial institutions.

The actual asset volume within the network is also rapidly expanding. XRPL-based tokenized Real World Assets (RWA) have grown to approximately $458 million, a significant increase from around $5 million at the beginning of 2025. This demonstrates the accumulation of practical financial use cases beyond mere speculative assets.

However, a disparity between token value and network growth still exists. Even if financial institutions utilize XRPL, the need to hold large amounts of XRP is limited, and payments are increasingly centered around stablecoins. Indeed, while assets within XRPL increased by approximately $1.3 billion in early 2026, the price of XRP fell by about 29%, revealing this disparity.

Ultimately, the analysis suggests that the investment perspective for XRP is closer to a long-term strategy than short-term speculation. It is believed that time is needed for Ripple's acquisitions and infrastructure expansion to translate into actual network activity and increased demand, with a gradual reflection of value expected rather than a rapid surge in the short term.

*Disclaimer: This article is for investment reference only, and we are not responsible for any investment losses based on it. The content should be interpreted for informational purposes only.*