XRP as a Resource: Xumm Founder Explains Its Function on the XRPL Network

• Wietse Wind offers a fresh perspective, viewing XRP as a “bus ticket” granting access to XRPL’s network bandwidth.
• Misconceptions about XRP operating like Ethereum’s gas are debunked, emphasizing its distinctive role in the XRPL ecosystem.

XRPL’s XRP: A Distinct Role Beyond the Hype

Blockchain discussions often revolve around the utility and value proposition of individual tokens. Recently, the role of XRP within its home turf, the XRP Ledger (XRPL), has taken center stage. Wietse Wind, the trailblazer behind XRPL Labs and Xumm, postulates a unique standpoint, suggesting that XRP essentially acts as a “bus ticket”, offering access to the XRPL’s network capabilities.

Deciphering XRP’s True Essence in XRPL

Vet, an authoritative XRPL DUNL validator, ignited the debate with an assertion intended to correct a widespread belief: that XRP functions as a gas token in XRPL, reminiscent of Ethereum’s gas fees. This mechanism in Ethereum involves users participating in auction-style bidding to ascertain transaction processing. Vet clarifies that XRP departs from this modus operandi.

XRP is not a gas token. Gas implies a auction mechanism where you bid with XRP on gas, much like you bid with ETH on gas to be included by validators.

You can't do that on the XRPL.

That itself can be seen as a utility tho. Maybe we need gas ⛽️
But no incentive is the best… pic.twitter.com/kqSFD5HSEk

— Vet 🏴‍☠️ (@Vet_X0) August 24, 2023

In concurrence, Wind delves deeper, elucidating the dynamics of XRPL’s transaction processing. The ledger does incorporate a bidding structure, but with a twist. Instead of auctioning for transaction placements, this bidding directly correlates with burning XRP. The XRPL’s fees are seamlessly directed to a burn address, an ingenious move to mitigate potential spam transactions – an architecture that stands apart from many crypto networks.

Drawing an analogy, Wind equates XRPL’s workings to a bus transportation system. Here, XRP emerges as the pivotal ticket, granting users entry to the ledger’s bandwidth. If this “bus” – the network – isn’t crowded, standard XRP fees are adequate. But during times of heightened traffic or “busier hours”, individuals can opt for priority by upping their fees.

Interestingly, this urgency seldom arises. The XRPL, despite its potential, operates at a fraction of its capacity, often laying dormant or “empty”.

Amid the chatter, Wind’s bus ticket analogy resonated with several enthusiasts. In his words,

“In essence, XRP is your ticket to tap into network bandwidth. If you find the bus packed, you can always get ahead by opting for a pricier ticket. Yet, the bus is usually spacious and empty.”

This metaphorical representation traces its roots to a previous argument from an XRP community member, who likened XRP to a gas token for the XRPL, a sentiment even David Schwartz, Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, found agreeable.

But Wind’s insight doesn’t stop there. He candidly expresses that the current market turbulence around XRP stems from pure speculation, overshadowing its genuine utility: those metaphorical “bus tickets” that facilitate access to the XRPL.

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