• Ripple insider suggests crypto adoption figures are far larger than publicly reflected.

• Big Tech is re-entering digital payments, potentially creating massive settlement demand.

  

• Tokenized stocks and ETFs are expanding onto blockchain rails.

  

A fresh round of debate around XRP is picking pace after comments from Ripple’s technology leadership hinted that public adoption numbers may only tell part of the story.

In a recent video breakdown, crypto commentator Ripple Bull Winkle opened up about  remarks from David Schwartz, Chief Technology Officer at Ripple, and his successor Luke. The message was straightforward: current usage metrics across crypto may look modest, but they likely understate what is happening beneath the surface.

One insider reportedly described today’s figures as “rookie numbers,” arguing that millions of users and transactions tied to integrations, backend infrastructure and indexed assets may not be fully reflected in headline statistics.

The Utility Argument

At the heart of the bullish case is what Schwartz has previously referred to as “meaningful secondary market utility.”

The idea is simple. XRP’s long-term value would not come from one-time purchases or speculative trading spikes. Instead, it would come from repeated use inside financial systems. If XRP becomes embedded within payment rails, liquidity pools or tokenized asset platforms, the same units could circulate continuously. Over time, that velocity could amplify demand.

In that framework, a triple-digit XRP price would require sustained global usage at scale, not just retail enthusiasm during bull runs.

Big Tech, Stablecoins and Tokenization

Broader industry trends are adding context to the conversation.

Major technology firms are once again exploring digital payments infrastructure. Large financial institutions are building tokenized settlement systems. The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, or DTCC, has publicly discussed a future where multiple blockchains operate side by side.

In such an environment, interoperability becomes essential. Assets that can bridge liquidity between networks could play a functional role rather than a purely speculative one.

Even after the market turmoil of 2022, including collapses tied to Terraform Labs, institutional activity did not vanish. Instead, many firms shifted focus toward regulated products, exchange-traded funds and tokenized financial instruments. The infrastructure buildout has continued, even during periods of muted price performance.

The $100 Question

On the technical side, analyst EGRAG Crypto has outlined a long-term chart structure he calls a “Nike” formation. After falling from its 2018 peak near $3.31 to a low around $0.114, XRP has formed a rounded base with progressively higher lows on the macro chart.

Within that broader pattern, he interprets price action as part of a multi-year Elliott Wave structure. An initial impulsive wave reportedly carried XRP from the $0.20 range to above $3 in early 2025. The current retracement is viewed as a corrective phase, with key support zones below current levels.

If the larger structure remains intact, projected upside levels discussed by some technical analysts range from the low double digits to far more ambitious targets. A $100 scenario, often cited in online discussions, would represent an extreme expansion phase rather than a base-case outcome.