The long-standing expectation within the XRP community that institutional adoption would eventually drive price growth has been challenged once more, as Ripple’s flagship Swell 2026 conference ended without triggering the hoped-for rally in $XRP.
Ripple Swell 2026 fails to boost XRP price
Ripple, a San Francisco-based payments technology company, hosted its annual Swell conference in New York. This year’s event was the largest in its history, featuring prominent speakers from across finance and technology, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Despite the high-profile gathering and anticipation leading up to the event, $XRP faced continued price stagnation.
Following the conference, $XRP traded at $1.28, marking a 3% decline over 24 hours. Some community members had anticipated that major announcements or renewed momentum from Swell would deliver substantial upward movement for the asset. Instead, $XRP’s price performance after Swell matched previous years, failing to meet bullish expectations.
XRP holders express mounting frustration
A widely circulated post from the commentator UnknowDLT summed up growing exasperation among $XRP holders, stating that “the patience of XRP holders is running out.” The comment, which gathered thousands of views, sparked a flood of replies—ranging from those reaffirming their commitment to the coin, to others openly venting their disappointment.
The patience of XRP holders is running out, as sentiment in the community shifted from anticipation to impatience following the latest Swell event.
Several holders assured that they would continue to hold $XRP regardless of the timeline required to see meaningful gains. However, other participants attributed the lackluster price performance to alleged price manipulation or questioned whether Ripple’s leadership is adequately prioritizing retail investors. One critic pointed to Ripple’s $16 trillion in payments processed in 2025 and suggested that only a small portion of that volume might be enough to impact $XRP’s price.
Mini dictionary: Scott Bessent is the current US Treasury Secretary, responsible for advising on fiscal and economic policy and overseeing the Department of the Treasury.
Ripple’s transaction volumes and usage questions
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse disclosed that the company processed $13 trillion in payments during 2025. However, he clarified that 99.9% of these transactions did not utilize a crypto rail or a stablecoin, which raised concerns among supporters who expected $XRP to be integrated at the core of Ripple’s payment infrastructure.
Many community members questioned the apparent disconnect between Ripple’s impressive transaction volumes and the relatively limited use of $XRP within those flows.
This gap has prompted some holders to scrutinize leadership statements more closely, especially as high payment volumes do not appear to translate into increased demand or price appreciation for the token itself.
| Year | Ripple Payment Volume | % Using Crypto/Stablecoin | XRP Price Post-Swell |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $13 trillion | 0.1% | $1.28 |
Ongoing debate over XRP’s future
Community members also weighed in on the five-year vision shared by Ripple executives. Garlinghouse stated that $XRP would become the institutional gold standard for cryptocurrency, while former CTO David Schwartz envisioned widespread retail adoption. Despite these optimistic forecasts, some holders indicated ongoing dissatisfaction and skepticism over when, or if, these goals would be realized.
As Swell 2026 has come and gone without a meaningful shift in $XRP’s price, the division among holders remains. While some are prepared to wait as long as necessary, others continue to question the alignment of Ripple’s business achievements with actual benefits for $XRP investors.
