The Currency analytics
By dan saada
Ripple made waves again. A thirteen-year-old comment from co-founder Chris Larsen just resurfaced on social media, and crypto Twitter can't stop talking about it.
Back in February 2013, Larsen basically said XRP would beat Bitcoin as the go-to digital currency.
The world's first cryptocurrency keeps its crown despite constant challenges from newer projects.
XRP carved out its own space in the meantime. Ripple Labs built the token specifically for cross-border payments, and banks actually started using it.
The SEC lawsuit changed everything though. Federal regulators sued Ripple in December 2020, claiming XRP sales were unregistered securities offerings.
Ripple's legal team thinks they're winning. Attorney Stuart Alderoty keeps saying the case will set major precedents for crypto regulation in America.
CEO Brad Garlinghouse didn't slow down despite the legal drama. On February 5, 2026, he announced partnerships with several European banks to use XRP for international transfers.
XRP trades at $0.85 right now. That's up from last week's dip but still far from its all-time highs. CryptoCompare analysts think legal news drives most price moves these days.
Ripple keeps building tech upgrades. The company launched a major update to its ODL platform on January 30, cutting transaction times even further.
And the Santander deal proves institutions are paying attention. On February 7, 2026, Spain's biggest bank said it'll integrate XRP into its global payment network.
Crypto analysts stay divided on XRP's chances. Alex Krüger crunched the numbers and found XRP's market cap needs to triple just to challenge Bitcoin's current position.
The SEC case still hangs over everything. Legal expert Caroline Pham said February 8 the ruling could affect how regulators classify all digital assets going forward.
Ripple doubled down on infrastructure improvements anyway. VP of Product Asheesh Birla mentioned February 4 that recent platform upgrades target institutional clients who need…
Market participants can't agree if Larsen's 2013 vision makes sense today. Bitcoin maximalists point to network effects and brand recognition that XRP lacks.
The legal battle reaches its climax soon. Both Ripple and the SEC filed final briefs ahead of the March hearing, and industry observers expect a decision by summer 2026.