Key Takeaways

• Critics claim that big institutions may ignore the XRP Ledger (XRPL), but the network has already gained adoption from major financial players like SBI Holdings, MoneyGram, and Tranglo.
• Private blockchains by institutions (e.g., JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, SWIFT) do not eliminate XRPL’s relevance.
• XRPL’s fast, low-cost, public, and permissionless design makes it hard to replicate with private networks.

Why the XRP Ledger Remains Relevant Amid Institutional Blockchain Development

The XRP Ledger (XRPL), the blockchain behind Ripple’s cross-border payment solutions, continues to be a topic of discussion among crypto enthusiasts and financial analysts. Recently, Vet, a dUNL validator on the XRPL, called out critics claiming that major institutions would ignore the network, labeling it the “worst take” in the XRP ecosystem.

XRPL Adoption by Major Financial Institutions

Despite criticism, several prominent institutions have incorporated the XRPL or RippleNet into their payment infrastructure. Examples include:

• SBI Holdings: A major Japanese financial services company using RippleNet for cross-border settlements.
• MoneyGram: Partnered with Ripple to facilitate faster international transfers.
• Tranglo: A Southeast Asian payments provider leveraging Ripple’s technology.

While some partnerships have changed over time, others continue to rely on RippleNet, Ripple’s enterprise payment network. This demonstrates that XRPL is not merely a theoretical solution—it is actively being used in real-world financial applications.

Why the Idea of Institutions Replacing XRPL Emerged

Speculation about institutions abandoning XRPL gained traction as firms developed their own private blockchain solutions:

• JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs have created in-house blockchains for digital asset applications.
• SWIFT, the global banking network, partnered with ConsenSys to integrate blockchain-based ledgers for cross-border payments and is preparing to launch its own solution.

These moves have led some critics to suggest that XRPL may become obsolete, but blockchain experts like Vet argue otherwise.

Why XRPL Cannot Simply Be Replaced

XRPL offers several unique advantages that private blockchains cannot easily replicate:

1. Public, Permissionless Design
   Unlike private networks, XRPL allows institutions, developers, and users to interact on a shared ledger. This transparency and openness foster broader adoption and network effects that closed systems struggle to match.
2. Fast and Low-Cost Transactions
   XRP Ledger’s transaction speed and low fees remain a compelling alternative to both legacy banking systems and some private blockchains.
3. Existing Infrastructure and Partnerships
   Many institutions leverage XRPL or RippleNet instead of building a new blockchain from scratch. For example, SWIFT is testing on-chain payments using Linea, an Ethereum Layer-2 solution, rather than creating a completely independent ledger.

The Bottom Line

While private institutional blockchains are growing, they do not render the XRP Ledger irrelevant. XRPL continues to offer unique advantages in speed, cost, transparency, and interoperability that private solutions cannot fully replicate. For financial institutions seeking both reliability and public network benefits, XRPL remains a strong contender in cross-border payments and blockchain adoption in 2025–2026.