Ripple has unveiled plans to introduce a stablecoin pegged at a 1:1 ratio with the United States dollar, marking a bold stride into a market dominated by giants such as Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC).
The new stablecoin will be backed by US dollar deposits, short-term US government treasuries, and other equivalents, with its reserves audited by an independent firm and monthly attestations published to ensure full transparency.
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Ripple steps into a market valued at $150 billion and expected to grow to over $2.8 trillion by 2028. This anticipated growth and the current dominance of only a few major players present a good opportunity for new entrants.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse sees this as a natural step for the company to continue integrating crypto with traditional finance. He stated:
Institutions entering this space are finding success by partnering with compliant, crypto-native players and Ripple's track record and resiliency speaks for itself, as we launch new products and acquire companies through multiple market cycles.
To secure its place at the top of this market, Ripple aims to focus on transparency and reliability by having independent firms audit its financial reserves and sharing monthly updates. This approach is meant to address concerns similar to those faced by Tether in its early days regarding the security of funds and the authenticity of its reserve claims.
The stablecoin is designed to be a high-quality solution for banks and other financial companies, with Ripple's commitment to following regulations and growing portfolio of licenses worldwide.
Ripple's chief technology officer, David Schwartz, has pointed out that this diversification would enable Ripple to address markets and opportunities that are currently beyond the reach of XRP:
Having multiple paths to give customers a better experience means you have more customers. If we only did things with XRP, then where XRP wasn’t available, we would just have to tell a customer no.
The stablecoin will debut on the XRP Ledger and Ethereum with plans to expand to more blockchains and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications.
Through this venture, Ripple is set to offer a stable and compliant digital currency, paving new paths for institutional and DeFi use cases across the crypto ecosystem.
Ripple also recently made headlines when the US Securities and Exchange Commission targeted it with a $1.95 billion fine for allegedly violating federal securities laws.
