XRP Activity Spikes Amid Brad Garlinghouse-Trump Discussions

XRP Rises Amid Trump Dinner and Ripple’s Strategic Moves

Ripple’s XRP defied the broader crypto market’s downtrend on Wednesday, climbing over 2%, while most digital assets saw steep declines. The surge comes after Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse and Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty met with President-elect Donald Trump for a high-profile dinner.

“Fantastic dinner last night … Excited for what’s ahead in 2025,” Garlinghouse shared on X, posting a photo of himself, Alderoty, and Trump.

XRP has been on a tear since Trump’s election victory in November, skyrocketing over 300% and significantly outpacing other major cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin, in contrast, slid 2.5% over the past 24 hours, with the broader CoinDesk 20 Index following suit. Even other election beneficiaries, like dogecoin (DOGE), have seen comparatively modest gains, with DOGE doubling since November.

Market analysts point to a mix of macroeconomic expectations and Ripple-specific developments as drivers for XRP’s outperformance. “Investors are waiting for clarity on Trump’s policy direction and further signs of easing inflation or labor market adjustments in the U.S.,” said Aurelie Barthere, principal research analyst at Nansen. “Until then, crypto markets will likely remain volatile.”

Barthere emphasized that the meeting between Ripple’s leadership and Trump is a particularly bullish signal for XRP. “It indicates Ripple’s growing influence and positions XRP as a key player in discussions about financial innovation under the new administration.”

Ripple’s strategic initiatives have also bolstered confidence in XRP. The potential approval of an XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF), hinted at by Ripple President Monica Long, and the regulatory green light for Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin, have added momentum. RLUSD debuted in December and was recently listed on Bitstamp, further expanding its reach.

Zahreddine Touag, Head of Trading at Woorton, observed strong demand for XRP among market participants. “Retail brokers and crypto-native funds are showing a clear preference for XRP this week, likely due to Ripple’s positive news cycle, including the potential ETF and RLUSD developments,” Touag explained.

As Ripple builds on its leadership’s high-profile engagements and strategic advancements, XRP remains a standout in the crypto market, outperforming its peers and setting the stage for further gains.