Jake Claver, CEO of Digital Ascension Group, recently argued that the global financial system is steadily aligning around $XRP.
According to this view, large financial institutions are buying $XRP early, not for short-term price action, but for utility. $XRP is fast and efficient and one token can be used for multiple cross-border payments in a single day. This makes it useful for settling international transactions.
From this perspective, $XRP may become necessary rather than optional. As global trade grows and faster payments matter more, companies that handle international transactions may need $XRP liquidity to stay competitive, according to Claver.
A major reason is efficiency. Instead of keeping money parked in numerous foreign bank accounts, payment providers can use $XRP only when needed. This frees up capital and reduces idle funds.
As global trade increases, demand may shift away from holding multiple currencies and toward using a neutral asset that can move value instantly.
Commentators like Claver believe $XRP is set to fill that role. To him, “the writing is on the wall”. He warns today’s investors to prepare and accumulate $XRP at lower prices or risk being left behind.
How $XRP Actually Fits in Ripple’s Payment Model
Meanwhile, $XRP community analyst Crypto Eri added important context on how this works in practice. She noted that Ripple’s On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) model allows payment providers to access $XRP only when required.
In some corridors, Ripple facilitates this through managed liquidity setups. This means institutions can use $XRP without holding long-term exposure on their balance sheets.
Ripple charges a usage fee for these services, and clients are billed directly as part of their Ripple Payments agreements. In some regions, such as parts of Asia-Pacific, this structure has already been rolled out through live presentations and operational frameworks.
Essentially, Eri seeks to counter Claver’s speculation that banks are quietly accumulating $XRP for liquidity purposes. Proponents of this theory often suggest that a “supply shock” could occur due to supposed accumulations to drive $XRP’s price higher.
However, many influential voices in the $XRP community are pushing back against these claims, calling them baseless.
Banks don’t quietly accumulate for payments. They use Ripple payments solution.
— 🌸Crypto Eri ~ Carpe Diem (@sentosumosaba) January 5, 2026
Exchanges and Regional Exceptions
While many institutions rely on Ripple-managed liquidity, there are exceptions. Eri noted that some exchanges manage their $XRP liquidity independently.
For example, certain African exchanges, such as Xago in South Africa, manage $XRP internally to support cross-border flows without relying entirely on Ripple’s infrastructure.
In sum, as more payment corridors open and institutions seek faster settlement, supporters believe $XRP’s utility will become increasingly difficult to ignore.
thecryptobasic.com