Ripple president Monica Long announced that institutional demand for both XRP and the company’s upcoming US dollar stablecoin, RLUSD, has reached unprecedented levels. The comments from Long, who oversees institutional partnerships at Ripple—a blockchain-based payments company—have caught the attention of investors and analysts across the sector.
Institutional demand at all-time highs
Entrepreneur and Bitcoin advocate Lark Davis emphasized Long’s remarks, noting her observation that current institutional interest is “nothing like we’ve ever seen.” Davis pointed out that Ripple’s unique position allows it to gauge such trends firsthand. He commented that despite such significant demand, the price of XRP has not yet reacted in line with these developments.
Ripple president Monica Long described institutional demand for XRP and RLUSD as ‘unprecedented,’ signaling that interest surpasses anything in Ripple’s previous experience.
Long’s statements carry notable weight within the industry, especially considering her leadership in institutional outreach. Ripple is widely recognized for its integration with major financial entities and as a key player in advancing blockchain-based cross-border payments.
RLUSD, the new stablecoin introduced by Ripple, aims to facilitate instant payments and liquidity between institutions, leveraging blockchain technology to provide faster and more secure settlement compared to traditional systems.
Mini dictionary: RLUSD, Ripple’s US dollar-backed stablecoin designed for enterprise use, is intended to offer fast, reliable, and regulated digital settlements.
Why price has yet to reflect demand
Davis explained that the lag between growing institutional interest and price action is mainly due to the nature of institutional operations. Large institutions require extensive internal processes such as board approvals, compliance verification, legal assessments, and secure custody setups before deploying capital into digital assets.
He added that while demand is present and in progress, it takes considerable time for institutions to fully participate. Unlike retail traders, institutional investors do not act on short news cycles. Their onboarding trajectory often extends over months or even years.
Demand is real and already in the pipeline. Institutions move through complex, structured approval processes, which means market reactions can be significantly delayed.
Davis also cited broader market conditions as a factor. He observed that the current bear market has generally slowed price responses to positive news, with suppressed trading volumes and muted reactions across the board.
Potential impact on XRP and RLUSD
Long’s insight comes from direct visibility into Ripple’s institutional relationships. Her assessment suggests a build-up of demand behind the scenes, with negotiations and partnerships progressing that have not yet produced visible market moves.
Davis highlighted that in previous cycles, a similar dynamic occurred where prices remained stable until institutional flows reached the open market. Once onboarding is complete and large-scale capital enters, there could be significant price action in both XRP and RLUSD.
The timeline for these developments remains uncertain, as retail investors often move out before institutional allocations appear. Davis stressed that strategically positioning ahead of institutional inflows may be key for participants tracking the next phase of market growth.
