XRP Gains Momentum After Ripple’s High-Profile Meeting with Trump
XRP, the native token of the XRP Ledger, rose by 2% on Wednesday, contrasting with widespread losses in the broader cryptocurrency market. The increase in value came amid Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse and Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty’s meeting with President-elect Donald Trump, sparking optimism around XRP’s future.
Garlinghouse shared a photo of the dinner with Trump on X, captioning it, “Great dinner last night … A strong start to 2025,” fueling speculation that Ripple could benefit from closer ties to the incoming administration.
Since Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election, XRP has surged over 300%, outperforming many other major cryptocurrencies. In comparison, Bitcoin saw a 2.5% decline, and the CoinDesk 20 Index also dropped, while other altcoins like Dogecoin (DOGE) have “only” seen around a 100% gain.
Aurelie Barthere, a principal research analyst at Nansen, noted that crypto investors are waiting for further developments that could trigger the next rally. This could include signals of softening inflation or policy shifts under Trump. Barthere also emphasized that Garlinghouse’s dinner with Trump was viewed positively and could help drive future XRP growth.
Ripple’s continued expansion also plays a role in XRP’s bullish outlook. The company’s XRP ETF prospect, discussed by Ripple President Monica Long, and the regulatory approval of Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin in December are key catalysts. RLUSD was recently listed on Bitstamp, further elevating Ripple’s presence in the crypto space.
Zahreddine Touag, Head of Trading at Woorton, a Paris-based market maker, observed a significant uptick in XRP purchases, particularly from retail brokers and crypto-native funds. He attributed this to the favorable news surrounding Ripple’s potential ETF and the launch of RLUSD.
With increasing support from both the market and key stakeholders, XRP’s upward momentum appears poised to continue into 2025, as Ripple navigates its path in the evolving U.S. regulatory landscape.
