Key Takeaways
- RLUSD joins the top 10 USD-pegged stablecoins with a $1B market cap.
- 1,278% YTD growth highlights accelerating adoption.
- Retail traction and enterprise integration drive demand.
- Ripple expands OTC and brokerage operations in U.S. markets.
Ripple RLUSD Breaks $1 Billion Barrier
Ripple’s U.S. dollar–pegged stablecoin, RLUSD, has entered the ranks of the top 10 USD stablecoins by market capitalization — less than a year after launch. Officially introduced in December 2024, the token surpassed a $1 billion market cap this week, representing a 1,278% year-to-date increase, according to CoinGecko data.
The milestone comes just days after RLUSD crossed $900 million on Oct. 24, underscoring rapid adoption and investor confidence in Ripple’s growing ecosystem.
Fast-Growing Contender in the Stablecoin Race
While RLUSD remains far behind market leaders such as Tether’s USDt ($183 billion) and Circle’s USDC ($75 billion), it has quickly become a credible player among U.S. dollar–pegged stablecoins. RLUSD now ranks 10th by market capitalization, with daily trading volumes of about $174 million — a figure comparable to stablecoins like PayPal USD and Dai.
Ripple credited the growth to integrations with its expanding financial infrastructure, including Ripple Prime, GTreasury, and Rail. “RLUSD and XRP will drive faster, efficient and compliant settlement worldwide,” Ripple said on X, emphasizing its mission to modernize cross-border finance.
Retail Adoption and Network Expansion
Although initially marketed as an enterprise-grade asset, RLUSD has found unexpected traction among retail users. Its availability through platforms like Transak and self-custodial wallets such as Xaman has widened its reach beyond institutional clients.
Ethereum remains the dominant chain for RLUSD issuance, hosting about 80% of supply, while the XRP Ledger accounts for roughly 20%, according to RWA.xyz. This multi-chain approach has helped Ripple tap both decentralized finance (DeFi) and traditional enterprise markets.
Ripple Expands OTC and Brokerage Services
RLUSD’s market breakthrough coincided with Ripple’s expansion into digital asset prime brokerage. The firm announced on Monday the addition of over-the-counter (OTC) services for U.S. markets, following its $1.25 billion acquisition of crypto-friendly broker Hidden Road in October.
Also Read: Ripple Strengthens Crypto Custody—What This Means for Banks
Conclusion
Ripple’s RLUSD has swiftly emerged as a major stablecoin force, signaling the company’s successful pivot toward institutional-grade digital finance. With growing adoption across DeFi and enterprise sectors, RLUSD could become a key pillar in Ripple’s strategy to bridge traditional and blockchain-based financial systems.
