XRP's start in 2026 saw an increase of over 20%, a remarkable achievement, but behind this surge lies an awkward problem: the original core mission of this coin—serving as a transitional asset for banks—seems to be failing.

Analysts point out the key issue: banks and institutions have already changed their stance. They are not optimistic about XRP, but are instead turning to stablecoins like USDC or directly using Ripple's own non-XRP settlement tools. This means that no matter how fast or bullish Ripple's development is, it may not necessarily boost the demand for XRP itself.

The situation is even more brutal. The stablecoin market has already surpassed $300 billion in size, and although Ripple has established hundreds of partnerships, the cross-border payment business is gradually being eroded by alternatives like USDC. The original problem XRP aimed to solve is being overtaken by more standardized solutions. The growth has been good, but how optimistic can the outlook be? This is a question worth reflecting on.