Ripple - XRP

XRP was built to do one thing really well: move money fast. Unlike Bitcoin or Ethereum, which focus on decentralization and programmability, XRP’s strength is in payments infrastructure. It settles transactions in 3–5 seconds and costs a fraction of a cent. That’s faster than Visa, cheaper than SWIFT, and a whole lot simpler than moving money through traditional banks.

And it’s not just a concept. Ripple, the company that builds payment solutions using XRP has partnered with banks, fintech firms, and global institutions. XRP gets real-world use. Every day.

The XRP Ledger doesn’t run on mining or staking. It uses a unique consensus algorithm where independent validators agree on transactions without burning tons of energy. It’s scalable, green, and built for high-throughput use cases.

Of course, XRP’s had its share of drama (cue the SEC lawsuit), but it’s still here,. ranked among the top cryptos, backed by a loyal community, and powering real 

XRP wasn’t built by a single anonymous figure, it was created by a team of developers who had a plan: build a better blockchain for payments. Faster. Cheaper. More energy-efficient.

In 2012, David Schwartz, Jed McCaleb, and Arthur Britto launched what’s now known as the XRP Ledger (XRPL). A few months later, they teamed up with entrepreneur Chris Larsen and founded the company we know today as Ripple.

While Ripple uses XRP and builds on the XRPL, it didn’t "own" the network, and it still doesn’t. The XRP Ledger is open-source and decentralized. Anyone can build on it. Anyone can use it.

The founding vision was bold: create a blockchain optimized not for speculation, but for fast, cross-border payments. And whether you love or hate XRP, you’ve got to admit, it’s stuck to that mission like glue.

You can buy XRP in a bunch of places, but Plus Wallet makes the experience fast, clean, and fully secure.

Here’s how it works:

1. Open Plus Wallet and select “Buy”
2. Choose XRP
3. Fund your purchase using a debit card, bank transfer, or crypto
4. Boom! It’s in your wallet, and you control the keys

The difference with Plus Wallet? There’s no hidden friction, no confusing menus, and no wondering where your funds went. You get real-time pricing, smooth UX, and easy access to your XRP whenever you need it.

Yes, you can use big exchanges, but Plus Wallet skips the clutter and puts ownership, security, and simplicity in your hands. Perfect for beginners, fast enough for pros.

Speed is where XRP shines.

Here’s what you get:

• Transaction time: ~3–5 seconds
• Finality: Once it’s confirmed, it’s done. No rollbacks, no wait
• Throughput: Handles 1,500+ transactions per second, with potential to scale far higher

Compare that to:

• Bitcoin: ~10–60 minutes for final confirmation
• Ethereum: Fast, but depends on gas and congestion
• Bank transfers: Days (and fees)

Whether you're sending funds to a friend or powering high-volume payments, XRP gets it done almost instantly, at a fraction of the cost, and that’s why it’s trusted by financial institutions around the world.

Absolutely. Swapping XRP for USDT, or any other supported token, is seamless in Plus Wallet.

Here’s what that looks like:

• Open the app
• Tap "Swap"
• Choose XRP as your source asset and USDT as your target
• Set your amount and confirm the transaction

Done in seconds. No bridges, no centralized exchange hopping, no trust issues.

Behind the scenes, Plus Wallet connects you to the best rates across protocols, routes your swap efficiently, and keeps your assets in your wallet at all times. No one else holds your funds, and you don’t have to deal with clunky UIs or multi-step messes. It’s the easiest way to rebalance your portfolio on the fly.

This is where it gets nuanced, so let’s break it down. Ripple Labs is a company that builds enterprise payment solutions using blockchain tech. They helped launch the XRP Ledger and use XRP as part of their product suite (like RippleNet and On-Demand Liquidity).

But, Ripple does not own or control the XRP Ledger. The XRP Ledger is an open-source, decentralized network. Anyone can build on it. Ripple just happens to be its most well-known contributor.

So while Ripple Labs and XRP are closely tied historically, they’re not the same thing. Think of Ripple as one company building on XRP, not the company behind XRP. It’s an ecosystem, not a product.

This distinction matters, especially for decentralization and long-term viability.

Absolutely, and that’s not marketing fluff. XRP was literally built for international payments.

Here’s why it works:

• Speed: Settles cross-border transfers in ~3 seconds
• Cost: Transaction fees are fractions of a cent
• Access: No bank approval needed, no middlemen, no banking hours
• Liquidity: Easily convertible into local currencies via partners and exchanges

Ripple’s On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) system uses XRP as a bridge currency, allowing institutions to move value between fiat currencies without pre-funding accounts in multiple countries.

Translation: XRP helps move money faster, cheaper, and more efficiently than the outdated SWIFT system, and that’s why global banks and payment providers are paying attention.

Even for individual users, XRP is one of the best tools for cross-border crypto transfers.