"What's the point if only Ripple thrives?"...XRP, retail investors' outcry in the $1.38 swamp

▲ XRP/AI generated image

Ripple is increasing its corporate value through a series of expanding partnerships with global banks. However, the actual adoption and price rebound of XRP remain stagnant. Among investors, dissatisfaction is rapidly spreading that the discrepancy between corporate growth and token value is deepening.

The Crypto Basic reported on April 28 (local time) that Arthur, Chief Investment Officer of Royal Peak Capital, expressed strong concerns about the imbalance between Ripple's business expansion and the development of the XRP ecosystem. Arthur evaluated that Ripple is achieving clear results at the corporate level by expanding banking partnerships in key markets, including Korea, and strengthening its global payment network. However, he pointed out that these achievements are not leading to an increase in XRP's utility or on-chain transactions.

XRP has fallen more than 60% from its peak since mid-2025 and currently remains around $1.38. Even as Ripple continues to announce major contracts, the token price has not rebounded. The market expected corporate growth and token value to rise together, but the actual trend is moving in a different direction. Arthur emphasized that concrete plans related to expanding XRP's direct use cases should be presented at the XRPLasVegas 2026 event.

In this regard, virtual asset attorney Bill Morgan explained that the lack of correlation between Ripple's announcements and XRP's price is not a new phenomenon. He mentioned that even during the lawsuit with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, evidence that Ripple's business announcements directly impacted XRP's price was not recognized. This shows a structure where XRP's price is more heavily influenced by overall market trends, such as Bitcoin (BTC), rather than individual project performance.

Cardano (ADA) founder Charles Hoskinson criticized that the value generated in the Ripple ecosystem is concentrated on Ripple itself, not on token holders. He pointed out the lack of a structure that provides long-term holding incentives for XRP, such as staking or profit distribution, and emphasized that token holders do not have direct rights over the company's performance.

On the other hand, Ripple Senior Vice President Markus Infanger countered market concerns, stating that XRP's scope of utilization is continuously expanding. He revealed that XRP is being used in various areas, including payments, collateral transfers, and real-world asset tokenization, and the related market size has exceeded $2 billion. He also added that the possibility of introducing an XRP spot ETF could serve as an opportunity to improve liquidity and market efficiency. Investors are watching to see when Ripple's growth will lead to an increase in XRP's price.

*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.*