- Chris Larsen said XRP launched as an improved Bitcoin with reduced energy consumption and quicker transaction settlement times.
- He praised Bitcoin’s conservative upgrade path, arguing that careful changes enhance network reliability and thus build user confidence.
Chris Larsen spoke on the “When Shift Happens” podcast about the origins of XRP. He said he and a team of “really, really smart people” set out to build what he called a better Bitcoin. They focused on a non‑government currency that used far less electricity and confirmed transactions more quickly.
He praised Bitcoin’s cautious approach to change. He said this conservatism has kept the network reliable. At the same time, he argued that some projects move too fast. He pointed to Stellar’s decision to destroy over half of its XLM tokens in 2019 as an example of chaotic choices that run counter to what a currency needs.
“There was a group of really, really smart people, way smarter than I, that I got together with, and…basically they’re trying to create a, a better Bitcoin if you will — so a non-government online currency, but that didn’t, you know, burn a lot of electricity and was sort of faster,” he said.
Larsen called the XRP community “amazing” and “incredible.” He said those users stood by the project through highs and lows, much like Bitcoin backers have. Meanwhile, he questioned whether the Ethereum community would show that same loyalty over time.
“You could argue that all kinds of things should be improved there, but the fundamental is conservatism, and I think it’s really important,” he stressed.
He also discussed Ripple’s plans to go public. He said the U.S. process has become very bureaucratic and that short sellers can spread misinformation to push a stock’s price down. He warned that these actions could harm companies before they ever list on an exchange.
With XRP, Larsen said, the goal was clear: build a payment network that moves money fast and at low cost. He said that aim guided every design choice. He avoided calling it a reinvention of Bitcoin, but he described it once as “a non‑government online currency” that runs more like a well‑oiled machine than a slow‑moving ledger.
By focusing on stability and efficiency, Ripple seeks to offer banks and businesses a tool for cross‑border transfers that today can take days and cost hefty fees. In Larsen’s view, that practical use case sets XRP apart.
Looking ahead, he said, Ripple will continue to refine its platform. He added that the firm remains open to feedback and aims to keep its user base strong. If anything, he insisted, their work should speak for itself—no grand claims required.
XRP (Ripple) is trading at $2.1944 USDT, reflecting a +0.41% daily increase. The weekly performance is strong at +6.33%, indicating bullish sentiment, although XRP remains slightly down −2.24% over the past month.
On a yearly horizon, XRP has surged +365.18%, making it one of the best-performing top-10 assets—largely driven by the resolution of the SEC lawsuit and strategic institutional developments.
From a technical standpoint, XRP has officially broken out of a descending channel, confirming a bullish reversal from a key demand zone around $2.16. Price is holding above prior resistance, and momentum indicators such as MACD and RSI are pointing toward continuation.
The next upside targets lie at $2.33 (short-term) and $2.60 (medium-term), with breakout traders watching for a close above $2.22–$2.24 to signal further strength. Failure to hold above $2.15 would reintroduce downside pressure toward the $2.00 psychological level and possibly $1.85 if bearish volume returns.
On the news front, XRP is experiencing a renewed narrative cycle:
- Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse’s “1000% growth post” has gone viral, fueling speculative optimism about XRP’s future utility in global remittance and cross-border CBDC infrastructure.
- Major headlines report that XRP’s daily volume dropped 54%, sparking debates over market manipulation and potential setups for a short squeeze or stealth accumulation by institutional players.
- Analysts and influencers are calling for extreme upside targets, with some speculative claims projecting XRP to $10,000 or even $20,000, though these projections are not technically grounded.
- The SEC legal overhang has nearly concluded, clearing a major risk factor and enabling XRP to expand into U.S.-based financial institutions.
However, speculative euphoria and high-leverage positioning suggest caution, as volatility is likely to remain elevated over the coming sessions.
