‘It’s a Waste of Time,’ Says Investor About XRP

XRP (XRP-USD) has gone through a choppy period, with price action mirroring changing sentiment across the crypto market. The token, designed to power Ripple’s cross-border payments network, now trades about 60% below its peak from last year after a series of developments that many expected would drive a sustained move higher.

One of the most important developments came when the SEC dropped its long-running case against Ripple, removing a legal cloud that had weighed on the token for years. Around the same period, several spot XRP exchange-traded funds entered the market, expanding access for both institutional and retail investors. Early inflows were strong, with total investment reaching about $1.6 billion before slipping back toward $1 billion. Despite that broader access, XRP has struggled to maintain momentum.

That backdrop helps explain why investor Johnny Rice takes a far more cautious view on XRP’s long-term potential.

“I’m not going to beat around the bush: I think the cryptocurrency XRP will be trading below $1 five years from now,” Rice opined.

Rice’s argument rests on the idea that the most meaningful catalysts have already occurred, yet failed to deliver lasting price appreciation. While XRP did rise following those developments, the moves were temporary and faded over time. From his perspective, the market has already had the opportunity to reprice the token after regulatory clarity and improved access, but the outcome has been disappointing.

Rice also challenges the long-standing thesis that XRP would benefit from widespread adoption in cross-border payments. The expectation has been that banks using Ripple’s technology would drive consistent demand for XRP as a bridge asset between currencies. However, the investor contends that this demand has not materialized at a meaningful scale when compared with speculative flows in the broader crypto market.

At the same time, Rice points to a disconnect between Ripple’s business progress and XRP’s performance. Adoption of Ripple’s platform continues to expand, yet the token has not reflected that growth. The investor believes there is a clear reason for this divergence, highlighting the emergence of Ripple’s own stablecoin, RLUSD, as a competing option within the ecosystem.

According to Rice, financial institutions are more inclined to use a stable asset than one that can fluctuate significantly. He explains that “banks like stability and are wary of assets like XRP that can swing wildly in value,” suggesting that RLUSD may reduce the need for XRP in real-world transactions.

Looking ahead, Rice sees Ripple continuing to grow its payments footprint, but he does not expect that success to translate into higher XRP prices. The investor acknowledges there may be periodic rallies along the way, yet maintains that the longer-term outlook points lower, with the token potentially ending up “miles away from the lofty price targets” often discussed by optimistic investors. (To watch Rice’s track record, click here)

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured investor. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.