A seasoned Bitcoin investor known as Pumpius has laid out a crazy (but plausible) case for XRP’s (XRP-USD) path to $50. He believes the token’s rise will not come from hype or speculation but from what he calls a “controlled launch” into the U.S. financial system. The key, he argues, is Ripple’s pursuit of a national banking license.
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Ripple Pushes for a Banking License
Ripple has applied for a national bank charter with the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. This license is the same one held by big names like JPMorgan (JPM), Citi (C), and BNY (BNY). If Ripple secures it, the company would no longer be viewed as just a fintech upstart. Instead, it would step into the same category as America’s largest financial institutions. For XRP holders, this would mean the token becomes the foundation of Ripple’s banking operations.
The approval process is already underway. Ripple filed its application in July, and the OCC typically works under a 120-day timeline. This sets up the possibility of a decision as soon as October. For investors, the timing could not be more important. A favorable ruling would not only legitimize Ripple but also position XRP as a regulated settlement asset at the very core of banking infrastructure.
Approval Unlocks Direct Access
According to Pumpius, the real game-changer lies in what the license unlocks. An OCC charter would give Ripple direct access to the Federal Reserve. It would also allow Ripple to custody tokenized assets, issue stablecoins, and settle securities. In other words, Ripple would no longer have to rely on intermediaries. It would be able to serve as the direct bridge for banks, brokers, and funds moving into tokenized finance.
In this model, XRP becomes indispensable. Every major institution using Ripple’s system would need XRP to provide liquidity across borders and between asset classes. Instead of being a speculative token, it would be positioned as a functional tool used by the financial elite. This shift in utility, Pumpius argues, is what could power XRP toward the $50 level.
The Settlement Pipeline Holds Trillions
The numbers that Pumpius points to are staggering. Global bank settlements move around $6.6 trillion every single day. Even if Ripple captures a fraction of that, the effect on XRP’s price could be enormous. Remember that when you have a fixed supply, there’s more demand from institutions, and this would create more upward pressure, that retail traders alone could never generate.
Today XRP trades near $2.72. Pumpius’s case suggests that if just a small slice of global liquidity flows through Ripple’s system, XRP could climb to $50. This would represent a 1,600% increase and push its total market cap to about $3 trillion. At this size, it would even surpass Bitcoin’s current value, rewriting the hierarchy of the crypto market.
Legal Fights Clear the Path
Ripple’s long battle with the SEC is now behind it. Pumpius argues that while the lawsuit was a major obstacle, it was also part of the necessary process for Ripple to gain regulatory alignment. Without a resolution, the OCC charter would have been almost impossible to achieve. Now, with the legal issues settled, Ripple can focus fully on winning approval.
Moreover, a clean regulatory slate gives Ripple credibility in Washington and with global partners. It also means that any new push from banks or funds to use Ripple will not be held back by questions about legality. For Pumpius, this is the green light that sets the stage for XRP’s controlled launch.
Banks Push Back Hard
Still, Ripple faces resistance from powerful opponents. The American Bankers Association and other groups are lobbying the OCC to slow down or block Ripple’s application. Their main argument is that crypto firms should not receive federal bank charters without public debate. They also warn that approving Ripple would let it bypass state-level licensing rules, giving it an unfair advantage.
This opposition shows just how disruptive Ripple could become if approved. Traditional banks fear losing ground to a competitor that moves money faster and cheaper. While their resistance could delay Ripple’s progress, Pumpius believes it only shows the size of the opportunity. If Ripple were irrelevant, banks would not be fighting so hard to keep it out.
Pumpius Outlines XRP’s Path as a Controlled Launch
Pumpius’ major key point is that XRP’s rise will not be a reckless moonshot. Instead, it will be what he calls a “controlled launch.” By this, he means that Ripple’s growth will happen inside the framework of established regulation, through a national bank license, and with direct access to the Federal Reserve. For him, this makes the $50 target a logical outcome, not a fantasy.
He insists that this is what sets XRP apart from other crypto projects. Most tokens depend on hype cycles and retail speculation. Ripple, on the other hand, is moving toward integration with the very heart of global finance. If the OCC charter is approved, XRP will no longer be just another altcoin. It will be the settlement asset for a modern banking system.
At the time of writing, XRP is sitting at $2.7757.
