[DigitalToday reporter Jinju Hong] Ripple drew a line against claims in parts of the market that there is a disconnect between XRP's price and real demand. It said XRP is used as an investment asset while also serving as financial infrastructure, with both areas expanding together.

On April 24, blockchain outlet The Crypto Basic reported that Ripple senior vice president Markus Infanger (마르쿠스 인팡거) said in an interview with Japanese media that he does not agree with the view that XRP's value fails to reflect its real-world use. "I do not necessarily see it as a disconnect," he said. "XRP is drawing interest as an investment asset, while real-world use is also steadily expanding out of sight," he added.

The core of the remarks is that the crypto market narrative is shifting from price-driven investment to real financial infrastructure. The argument is that XRP is not simply a speculative asset, and its use is expanding across payments, collateral transfers and tokenisation of real-world assets (RWA).

Ripple also presented metrics. It said the value of tokenised assets based on the XRP Ledger has risen quickly, from about $100 million to $200 million last year to more than $2 billion recently. The company said this shows a trend of broader institutional participation and blockchain becoming incorporated into core areas of the financial system.

Institutional inflows were also cited as a key variable. Infanger said the launch of a U.S. spot XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) could expand liquidity, which could in turn create a virtuous cycle that improves payment efficiency. He said speculation and real-world use are not in conflict but are evolving in a way that strengthens each other.

He also made Ripple's position on stablecoins clear. Addressing concerns that Ripple's dollar-pegged stablecoin RLUSD could replace XRP, he stressed that "RLUSD is not a substitute but a way to broaden choices." He said XRP still serves as a bridge asset and a gas token within the XRP Ledger.

Ripple is also pushing to expand RLUSD in the Japanese market. It is preparing a full-scale business rollout in cooperation with SBI Group and crypto affiliate SBI VC Trade, and is also holding talks with local regulators. Infanger said Japan's clear regulatory environment and acceptance of digital assets provide a favorable foundation for business expansion.

Ultimately, Ripple's view is closer to interpreting the debate over XRP's price as a transitional phenomenon rather than a lack of demand. The analysis is that if adoption in real financial settings continues to expand, XRP could establish itself as an asset spanning both investment and payment infrastructure.

That shifts the focus from XRP's price moves to how quickly institutional adoption, growth in tokenised assets and stablecoin linkage strategies materialise. If these factors align, XRP's role and standing in the market are expected to become clearer.