Ripple, a goofy business with a history spanning over a decade, has been holding onto vast quantities of magic beans known as XRP. The company has spent billions on acquiring treasury management companies and stablecoin platforms, hoping to find its place in the corporate sector. But can it make the transition from “bridge currency” to a real business? Despite having a charismatic CEO and a dedicated fan base, Ripple still struggles to explain the purpose of XRP.
The company’s early days as OpenCoin in 2012 paved the way for the creation of XRP, which gained value due to its early adoption. However, no one has ever been able to make a strong case for its use beyond being a hype-driven phenomenon. Ripple has tried various approaches, including partnering with banks and pitching itself as a “bridge currency” to streamline remittance transfers.
The latest move by Ripple is buying GTreasury, a treasury management company, worth $1 billion. This acquisition shows the company’s intention to tap into the corporate sector and create tools that can navigate the intersection of traditional finance and cryptocurrency. However, it remains to be seen whether the acquired executives will fit into Ripple’s crypto culture, and if the company can resist trying to integrate XRP into services that don’t require it.
Ripple currently holds around 40 billion XRP, which it releases in small batches each month through an escrow system. Despite this, “to the moon” narratives have limited its growth potential. As Ripple looks to build a real business, it will need to demonstrate its capabilities beyond its current hype-driven model.
SEO Optimization:
* Keywords: Ripple, XRP, magic beans, bridge currency, corporate sector
* Meta Description: Explore the story behind Ripple’s XRP and its attempts to transition from a hype-driven phenomenon to a real business.
* Image Alt Tags: “Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse”
Source: https://fortune.com/crypto/2025/10/20/ripple-gtreasury-1-billion-xrp-unclear-business