Is Ripple (XRP) a Buy in 2025?

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The cryptocurrency market has seen a dramatic resurgence in recent months, and Ripple (XRP) is riding the wave with impressive momentum. Since November, XRP has surged over 350%, reclaiming its spot as the third-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization—sitting just behind Bitcoin and Ethereum. This rally has reignited investor interest, with many wondering: Is XRP a smart buy heading into 2025?

While the price action paints an optimistic picture, a closer look reveals significant red flags that every potential investor should understand. Despite the hype, I wouldn’t put a cent into XRP—and here’s why.

Ripple’s Business Model Lacks Transparency

At its core, Ripple was designed to revolutionize cross-border payments by offering a faster, cheaper alternative to traditional systems like SWIFT. The idea is compelling: use blockchain technology to enable seamless international money transfers for banks and financial institutions.

Sounds like a perfect fit for crypto—right?

Yet, after more than a decade in operation, Ripple has failed to deliver any publicly verifiable, large-scale adoption. While the company claims partnerships with major financial players such as Bank of America, American Express, and Santander, there is zero transparency about the actual revenue or transaction volume generated from these collaborations.

In contrast, leading blockchains like Ethereum and Solana offer fully transparent on-chain data. You can visit platforms like DefiLlama and instantly see metrics such as protocol revenue, active addresses, and transaction volume. Even public companies like Nvidia report quarterly earnings—something investors rely on to make informed decisions.

But Ripple? No financial disclosures. No user statistics. No revenue reports.

This lack of transparency contradicts one of crypto’s foundational principles: openness. If you can’t measure a project’s real-world impact or financial health, how can you assess its long-term value?

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Remember FTX? It was once hailed as a legitimate, innovative powerhouse—until it collapsed under the weight of deception. History shows that hype without substance leads to disaster.

XRP’s Tokenomics Are Inherently Inflationary

Tokenomics—the economic structure behind a cryptocurrency—are crucial to its long-term sustainability. Poor tokenomics can erode value, even if adoption grows.

And unfortunately, XRP’s token model is deeply flawed.

Unlike Bitcoin, where 94% of the total supply is already mined and the remaining tokens will trickle out slowly until 2140 (with near-zero inflation), only 55% of XRP’s total supply is currently in circulation. The remaining 45%—over 22 billion tokens—are held by Ripple Labs, the company behind the project.

Right now, Ripple releases up to 1 billion XRP per month into the market through escrow mechanisms. That translates to an estimated annual inflation rate of around 6%—a figure that dwarfs most established cryptocurrencies.

Here’s the problem: you have no control over how or when Ripple decides to release these tokens. There’s no hard-coded monetary policy like Bitcoin’s halving events. If Ripple suddenly accelerates releases during a bull market, it could flood the market and crash the price.

Compare that to Ethereum or Solana, where circulating supply dynamics are predictable and decentralized. With XRP, centralized control remains a persistent risk.

CEO-Led Market Manipulation: A Pattern of Concern

Market-moving rumors aren’t uncommon in crypto—but when those rumors originate from company executives with vested interests, it raises serious ethical concerns.

In early 2025, speculation spread that former President Donald Trump might include XRP in a proposed “Bitcoin Strategic Reserve.” The rumor sent XRP’s price soaring 12% in a single day.

But here’s the catch: the source of this rumor was Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse himself, who suggested the idea during a LinkedIn interview.

No government official confirmed such plans. No policy document mentioned XRP. It was pure conjecture—yet it moved markets.

This isn’t the first time Garlinghouse has been accused of using public statements to influence XRP’s price. Between 2017 and 2020, he reportedly sold approximately $160 million worth of his personal XRP holdings while simultaneously promoting Ripple’s potential in media appearances and interviews.

To many observers, this pattern resembles a classic pump-and-dump strategy—where insiders drive hype to inflate prices before selling their positions at peak levels.

When leadership blurs the line between legitimate commentary and market manipulation, investor trust erodes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is XRP legally safe to invest in after the SEC lawsuit?

While Ripple won key partial victories in its legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)—particularly regarding sales to retail investors—the case isn’t fully resolved. Regulatory uncertainty still lingers, especially around institutional sales and future compliance. This creates ongoing legal risk for investors.

Can XRP reach $10 in 2025?

Some optimistic forecasts suggest XRP could hit $10, but such projections lack fundamental backing. Achieving that price would require unprecedented adoption, massive token burns, or extreme market conditions. Given Ripple’s current revenue opacity and inflationary supply, $10 appears highly unrealistic in the near term.

How does XRP compare to other payment-focused cryptos like Stellar (XLM)?

Stellar (XLM), which shares similar goals with Ripple, operates as a decentralized nonprofit with transparent governance and open-source development. Unlike XRP, Stellar does not have a central entity controlling vast reserves, giving it stronger credibility among decentralized finance (DeFi) advocates.

Does Ripple generate any real revenue?

There is no verifiable public data on Ripple’s revenue. Unlike publicly traded companies or transparent blockchain protocols, Ripple does not disclose financial statements. This makes it impossible to evaluate its business performance objectively.

Could XRP still succeed if adopted by major banks?

Theoretically, yes—but after 10+ years, major global banks have not integrated Ripple at scale. Many have instead developed their own digital settlement systems or adopted central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). The window for dominance in institutional cross-border payments may already be closing.

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Final Verdict: Should You Buy XRP in 2025?

With thousands of cryptocurrencies available—many with strong fundamentals, transparent operations, and real-world utility—why take a speculative bet on a project shrouded in secrecy?

XRP may have brand recognition and short-term price momentum, but it suffers from:

These aren’t minor concerns—they strike at the heart of what makes crypto trustworthy and valuable.

If you're looking for digital assets with long-term potential, consider projects built on decentralization, verifiable usage, and sustainable economics.

Ripple doesn’t meet those standards.

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