Outlook on XRP Price as Ripple launches RLUSD pilot project with Mastercard and Gemini
XRP remained around $2.32 while Ripple announced a partnership with Mastercard, WebBank and Gemini to launch an XRP Ledger-based RLUSD stablecoin payment system for credit cards.
Ripple launches pilot project for credit card payments via RLUSD
Ripple has announced a new partnership with Mastercard, WebBank and Gemini to test RLUSD stablecoin payments on the XRP Ledger (XRPL).
The partnership, unveiled during the Swell 2025 business conference in New York, represents one of the most ambitious use cases to date for blockchain-based fiat payments.
The initiative will begin with the Gemini XRP Credit Card, which will allow transactions to be settled in RLUSD, a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar and regulated by the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS). RLUSD is fully backed by cash reserves and cash equivalent assets and operates directly on the XRPL.
Ripple Swell: We're collaborating with @Mastercard, WebBank, and @Gemini to introduce $RLUSD settlement on the XRP Ledger for fiat credit card payments, starting with the Gemini XRP Credit Card: https://t.co/36yoNBtM9f
Ripple said the programme will "set a new standard of institutional efficiency" by leveraging the low cost and high speed of the ledger to optimise the settlement of fiat payments between Mastercard and WebBank, the Gemini card issuing bank.
The announcement was accompanied by the revelation of a $500 million strategic investment led by Fortress Investment Group and Citadel Securities, bringing Ripple's valuation to around $40 billion.
The price of XRP falls despite high-profile partnership
Following the news, the price of XRP has remained around $2.32, down about 1 per cent on the day and 9.5 per cent over the past week, according to CoinMarketCap data.
XRPUSD chart | source: TradingView
Despite the short-term downturn, the token remains up 350% year-on-year, signalling a long-term market recovery and renewed investor confidence following Ripple's recent regulatory victories.
On TradingView, the XRP/USD pair shows resistance in the $2.40-2.45 area and support around $2.20, suggesting a consolidation phase as traders assess the impact of Ripple's institutional expansion.
Total trading volume has fallen to $5.9 billion in the past 24 hours (-41%), a sign of falling speculation despite strengthening fundamentals.
For now, XRP crypto traders are eyeing the $2.40 level as the next key threshold. A firm breakthrough could pave the way towards $2.80, while a loss of support near $2.20 could bring the price back to the $2.00 area.
Why the RLUSD pilot project is important for XRP holders
Although RLUSD is the focus of attention, XRP remains the native token that fuels the consensus and liquidity mechanisms of the XRPL.
According to analysts, the success of RLUSD could indirectly increase the volume of transactions on XRPL and enhance XRP's usefulness as a linking asset between fiat and crypto payments.
"With this partnership, Ripple demonstrates how regulated stablecoins and public blockchains can coexist with the traditional banking system," commented one industry observer. "If RLUSD is adopted widely, it could redefine the way institutions perceive on-chain payments."
Ripple's president Monica Long shared the same view, saying that the initiative
"shows how regulated digital assets like RLUSD can improve settlement processes, paving the way for more compliant and transparent blockchain payments."
Ripple is rumoured to be planning a $1 billion XRP buyback via a new treasury vehicle. Here is what is known, what is just speculation and what it could mean for the markets.
Ripple launches pilot project for credit card payments via RLUSD
Ripple has announced a new partnership with Mastercard, WebBank and Gemini to test RLUSD stablecoin payments on the XRP Ledger (XRPL).
The partnership, unveiled during the Swell 2025 business conference in New York, represents one of the most ambitious use cases to date for blockchain-based fiat payments.
The initiative will begin with the Gemini XRP Credit Card, which will allow transactions to be settled in RLUSD, a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar and regulated by the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS). RLUSD is fully backed by cash reserves and cash equivalent assets and operates directly on the XRPL.
Ripple said the programme will "set a new standard of institutional efficiency" by leveraging the low cost and high speed of the ledger to optimise the settlement of fiat payments between Mastercard and WebBank, the Gemini card issuing bank.
The announcement was accompanied by the revelation of a $500 million strategic investment led by Fortress Investment Group and Citadel Securities, bringing Ripple's valuation to around $40 billion.
The price of XRP falls despite high-profile partnership
Following the news, the price of XRP has remained around $2.32, down about 1 per cent on the day and 9.5 per cent over the past week, according to CoinMarketCap data.
Despite the short-term downturn, the token remains up 350% year-on-year, signalling a long-term market recovery and renewed investor confidence following Ripple's recent regulatory victories.
On TradingView, the XRP/USD pair shows resistance in the $2.40-2.45 area and support around $2.20, suggesting a consolidation phase as traders assess the impact of Ripple's institutional expansion.
Total trading volume has fallen to $5.9 billion in the past 24 hours (-41%), a sign of falling speculation despite strengthening fundamentals.
For now, XRP crypto traders are eyeing the $2.40 level as the next key threshold. A firm breakthrough could pave the way towards $2.80, while a loss of support near $2.20 could bring the price back to the $2.00 area.
Why the RLUSD pilot project is important for XRP holders
Although RLUSD is the focus of attention, XRP remains the native token that fuels the consensus and liquidity mechanisms of the XRPL.
According to analysts, the success of RLUSD could indirectly increase the volume of transactions on XRPL and enhance XRP's usefulness as a linking asset between fiat and crypto payments.
Ripple's president Monica Long shared the same view, saying that the initiative
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