Ripple SVP Confirms XRP Is Essential to RLUSD on XRPL At Consensus 2026 in Miami, Ripple SVP Jack McDonald delivered one of the clearest explanations yet of how XRP and RLUSD work together. His message was unmistakable: RLUSD isn’t replacing XRP, it relies on XRP to function on the XRP Ledger. Explaining how RLUSD functions on the XRP Ledger, McDonald emphasized that XRP remains essential to the network’s infrastructure. As the ledger’s native gas token, XRP powers every RLUSD transaction processed on XRPL behind the scenes. While reinforcing XRP’s central role in facilitating activity across the network, he said: “Everything that we’re doing on the XRP Ledger with RLUSD requires us to use XRP.” McDonald described XRP as the “grease in the wheel” powering RLUSD activity on the XRP Ledger, highlighting its critical role in enabling fast and efficient transaction flow across the network. His remarks push back against speculation that RLUSD could diminish XRP’s importance. Instead, Ripple appears to be strengthening a dual-asset ecosystem where RLUSD delivers price stability while XRP continues to power liquidity, transaction fees, and core network functionality. Ripple Clarifies XRP & RLUSD Roles as Dual-Asset Strategy Targets Global Payments Revolution McDonald noted that many of Ripple’s payments clients still rely on XRP because of its proven strengths in cross-border transactions, including fast settlement, low fees, network reliability, and deep integration across Ripple’s existing payment infrastructure. In Ripple’s evolving ecosystem, RLUSD is being positioned as a stable settlement asset for transactions that require minimal price volatility, while XRP continues powering liquidity, bridge transfers, gas fees, and core activity across the XRP Ledger. This separation of roles could become increasingly important as Ripple expands its presence in the global payments industry. More notably, this discussion comes as pressure grows on global payment systems like SWIFT, which still struggle with slow settlement, multiple intermediaries, and costly cross-border transfers. Therefore, Ripple is positioning the XRP Ledger and RLUSD as a faster alternative, combining stable-value transactions with instant blockchain-powered liquidity to reduce friction in international payments. Furthermore, recent analysis from RippleXity Research suggests RLUSD could actually expand XRP’s role rather than replace it. As stablecoin usage on the XRP Ledger increases, so does reliance on XRP to power transactions, provide liquidity, and operate the network itself. For the XRP community, McDonald’s comments reinforce a message Ripple has been signaling for months that XRP and RLUSD are not competitors. They are designed to function together, RLUSD delivering price stability, while XRP powers the infrastructure, liquidity, and movement behind the ecosystem.
