Ripple’s native token, XRP, has become a major player in 2025, riding the wave of decentralized finance (DeFi) innovations.
The cryptocurrency, which has surged 240% since the start of the year, continues to surprise its community with opportunities to increase wealth without liquidating assets.
XRP is trading at $2.46 at the time of writing, down 2.19% over the past 24 hours, according to Brave New Coin’s XRP Liquid Index.
Brave new pieces XRP Liquid Index
Cypress crypto analyst Demanincor recently sounded the alarm on the XRP community’s lack of awareness of the growing DeFi ecosystem within the XRP Ledger (XRPL). He noted that staking, yield farming, and liquidity provision tools are now available to XRP holders, but many remain dismissive or unaware of their transformative potential.
Ripple Chief Technology Officer David Schwartz also explained the financial benefits of engaging in XRP liquidity pools. “Providing tokens to liquidity pools allows holders to earn rewards,” he said, highlighting the dual benefit for individuals and the ecosystem as a whole.
Don’t sell XRP (hold up to $10,000)
The XRP community on Reddit is full of calls to “hold the line.” A post by Space_ape2069 urged users not to sell, aiming for an ambitious goal of $10,000, a frankly unrealistic price prediction. The thread sparked heated discussions about the potential of XRP amid ongoing legal battles and market speculation.
Source: Reddit
One user confidently linked the future of XRP to the resolution of the lawsuit and potential market impacts, encouraging others to stand firm. Another contributor shared their plan to invest $150 per week, emphasizing commitment. The comments reflect optimism within the XRP community despite the cryptocurrency’s legal and business challenges.
Meanwhile, Ripple’s low transaction costs and unmatched speed continue to set it apart. With transactions completed in seconds and fees as low as 0.00001 XRP (a fraction of a cent), the ecosystem offers cost-effective alternatives to systems like SWIFT, which can charge between $35 and $50 for international payments.
2025: the year of the XRP DeFi boom
The XRP Ledger’s 2024 deadline has been a game-changer, with tools now available for XRP holders to earn passive income. Demanincor believes that 2025 marks the ideal time for the XRP community to embrace DeFi opportunities, and potentially reap the benefits through 2030 and beyond.
Beyond individual gains, exploring options like staking and providing liquidity could significantly boost XRP’s status in the crypto space. The XRP community, known for its resilience and engagement, has a chance to improve the ecosystem while strengthening its own position.
Demanincor also highlighted that XRPL was the first blockchain to include built-in DEX functionality, further highlighting its drive to become a leader in the DeFi space. This historical fact supports the platform’s ability to support innovative financial mechanisms that many have not yet fully utilized.
The key role of DeFi in the evolution of XRP
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse and other key figures have long emphasized the importance of DeFi in shaping the future of XRP. According to Garlinghouse, features such as decentralized exchanges (DEX) are now operational on XRPL, aligning with the broader trend of decentralization in the financial world. Garlinghouse recently dined with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago, a move seen as extremely bullish for XRP.
Brad Garlinghouse with President Trump
Monica Long, President of Ripple, highlighted another advancement: RLUSD, a stablecoin backed by Ripple, has been integrated into institutional DeFi initiatives. This combination with XRP further strengthens the token’s utility in modern finance, she noted.
Jazzi Cooper, an XRPL advocate, reminded the community that DeFi has never been an afterthought for XRP. “The XRP Ledger was designed from the ground up with DeFi capabilities,” he emphasized, thus strengthening the foundations of these innovations.
