XRP Price Drops 3% Amid Revolutionary Crypto Predictions by Ripple President
The world of cryptocurrency is on the edge of a transformative era, according to Ripple President Monica Long. Despite a recent 3% dip in XRP’s price, Long has shared an optimistic perspective on where the crypto industry is heading by 2026. As she stated, “The industry is entering its production era,” moving from mere experimentation into real-world, large-scale adoption.
Stablecoins to Revolutionize Global Finances
One of Long’s strongest predictions places stablecoins at the core of a new financial ecosystem. Major players like Visa and Stripe are already integrating stablecoins into their payment infrastructure. Long anticipates that these digital dollars will be the very foundation for global settlement, replacing traditional systems rather than acting as alternative solutions.
Stablecoins have already seen significant growth, particularly in B2B payments. Data shows that the annualized run rate reached $76 billion in 2025, dramatically up from less than $100 million per month in early 2023. This surge signifies how corporations aim to unlock real-time liquidity and free up trillions in dormant capital by switching to stablecoin-based systems.
Crypto as Core Financial Infrastructure
The days of crypto as a speculative investment are numbered. According to Long, by 2026, approximately 50% of Fortune 500 companies will have crypto exposure. Tokenized assets, on-chain treasury bills, stablecoins, and programmable financial instruments will form the foundational layers of modern finance. Institutional-grade crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are expected to grow exponentially, further legitimizing digital assets in traditional financial markets.
Additionally, Long predicts a monumental 5-10% of global settlement activity to transition to on-chain systems. This shift will be propelled by tokenization and the increasing use of stablecoin-based collateral worldwide.
Custody and AI: The Next Frontiers
Crypto custody is entering a major revolution. Following an $8.6 billion wave of crypto M&A activity in 2025, Long expects custody services to become the next battleground, driven by vertical integration and multi-custodian strategies. By 2026, over half of the world’s top 50 banks are projected to forge formal crypto custody agreements.
Another major innovation Long highlighted is the convergence of blockchain with artificial intelligence (AI). This combination will introduce automated treasury management, collateral optimization, and real-time risk assessment using technologies like smart contracts and zero-knowledge proofs. Such advancements promise to redefine the efficiency and security of financial systems on a global scale.
XRP Price Reaction: Disconnect Between Short and Long-Term Narratives
Despite these ambitious projections, XRP’s price saw a slight dip of 3%, dropping below the $2 threshold. This decrease demonstrates the ongoing disconnect between immediate market movements and the grand vision for cryptocurrency as a transformative infrastructure. Nevertheless, Ripple remains steadfast in its approach, positioning itself as a leader for institutional crypto adoption in the coming era.
Conclusion: A Bold Vision for Institutional Crypto
Monica Long’s visionary outlook sets the stage for a significant evolution of the cryptocurrency industry by 2026. From stablecoin adoption to AI integration and institutionalized crypto custody, the future of finance is poised for groundbreaking changes.
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