Ripple Labs XRP continues to grab the attention of retail investors, making it a key pillar of the cryptocurrency market.
Despite emerging trends and technologies, the digital asset still garners interest from the everyday ordinary market participants.
Raoul Pal, the CEO of Real Vision, through his X account, recently shed some light on how XRP is different from most alts for newbies.
Unlike other cryptocurrencies, XRP has not had a very steady ride. The cryptocurrency has been locked in a legal battle with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) since 2020.
It lead to a massive delisting from various exchanges. Despite these challenges, XRP has maintained its status as a top-10 cryptocurrency by market capitalization.
However, XRP has managed to survive it and remain among the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.
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Pal pointed out that the crypto market is constantly attracting new investors and when this is the case, most of them choose to invest in XRP.
Key Drivers of Retail Appeal
According to Pal, a combination of factors contributes to XRP’s continued appeal among retail investors. Lower transaction fees make it ideal for those owning smaller amounts of cryptocurrency; simplicity reduces the stereotype difficulties a new user may face.
Furthermore, it has advantages related to its connection with Ripple – a blockchain company considered to be the leader in international payment systems.
This credibility has fostered a loyal and enthusiastic XRP community, often described as “cult-like,” which has been instrumental in bolstering the cryptocurrency’s market presence.
XRP’s Comeback and Institutional Influence
Interestingly, Pal’s recent commentary marks a shift in his perspective on XRP. In an August 2024 video, he criticized the asset, advising investors to move toward newer options and even labeling XRP as “irrelevant.”
However, a remarkable 475% price rally between November and December 2024 proved his skepticism premature. This surge, which vastly outperformed the broader market, was driven by optimism following Donald Trump’s election victory.
Many investors anticipated that the incoming administration would provide much-needed regulatory clarity, particularly for assets like XRP that had long faced legal uncertainty.
Pal also used the opportunity to critique the growing trend of AI-driven blockchain agents, which have been gaining traction as a key narrative for 2025.
These agents, touted as revolutionary tools for blockchain interaction, have sparked excitement among high-risk traders. However, Pal fails to buy into the trend stating that it is more of a fad, as it does not offer enough use or value for the average investor.
However, he referred to Ripple, XRP as an example of an asset that has always protected the interests of middle-class trading participants.
XRP’s ability to weather market turbulence and maintain its relevance highlights its unique position in the crypto ecosystem.
From Pal’s perspective, XRP’s continuing to remain popular makes a lot of sense since it is not a speculative product which is built on hype alone as is the case with most cryptos.
Until XRP secures a favorable outcome in its ongoing legal battle with the SEC, XRP has shown time and again that it can buck the trend.
