Ripple CTO David “JoelKatz” Schwartz has reiterated that XRP was not intended to stay “dirt cheap,” clarifying that his long-cited 2017 remark referred to the token’s function in payments rather than investor returns. The comments arrive as industry figures spotlight tokenization trends and as XRPL-focused projects tease new partnerships.
Schwartz Clarifies 2017 Remark: Price and Payments Efficiency
In recent posts highlighted on X, Schwartz revisited his 2017 statement that XRP “can’t be dirt cheap,” saying it was frequently misinterpreted as a bullish call for holders. He emphasized that the point was about payments mechanics: when used as a bridge asset to move value across borders, the nominal dollar size of a transaction is fixed, but the number of XRP units required varies with price.
According to Schwartz, if XRP’s unit price is very low, significantly more tokens are needed to settle large transfers. That increases operational friction, potential slippage, and liquidity demands. By contrast, a higher unit price can make the same flows more efficient because fewer tokens are required, improving overall settlement dynamics for high-value transactions on the XRP Ledger (XRPL).
SBI Signals Confidence as Ripple Collaboration Deepens
Momentum around the XRPL ecosystem continues to draw attention from financial incumbents. Yoshitaka Kitao, CEO of Japan’s SBI Holdings, has long expressed support for XRP and Ripple. According to an X post from an industry influencer, Kitao recently reiterated strong confidence in XRP’s long-term prospects, suggesting the asset could appreciate as adoption grows. SBI and Ripple maintain close ties in Asia, and reports indicate they are exploring initiatives such as potential RLUSD integration and blockchain-based bond solutions.
Real-World Utility Push: RealFi and the REAL Token
Ecosystem participants are also highlighting new utility-focused initiatives on the XRPL. RealFi, a project that says it is building payment rewards across multiple industries, has teased a major partnership announcement targeted for April 17. The effort is powered by the REAL Token, which the team says is built on the XRPL and intended to support global expansion of the ledger’s use cases. Details of the partnership have not been publicly disclosed.
Tokenization Narrative Gains Traction
The broader conversation around tokenization — the on-chain representation of financial assets — continues to accelerate. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has previously argued that markets may be underestimating how quickly a wide range of assets could be tokenized. That perspective aligns with ongoing efforts across multiple chains, including the XRPL, to connect blockchain infrastructure with traditional finance workflows.
Schwartz’s clarification underscores a central tenet of XRP’s design: its utility as a bridge asset for efficient, large-scale payments. With institutional interest persisting and new XRPL initiatives emerging, market watchers are focused on whether real-world adoption will follow.