XRP's real-world adoption has experienced a significant surge, with monthly transactions jumping 65% over the past year, according to latest reports from Cryptopolitan. This substantial increase in practical usage has contributed to XRP's continued outperformance in the cryptocurrency market. XRP reached a record high of $3.65 in July 2025 and now trades near $1.46, ranking as the fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market value. The combination of strong adoption metrics and price performance has reinforced XRP's position as a leading digital asset.
According to reports from Mint, Ripple's ex-CTO David Schwartz revealed that XRP significantly increased his wealth compared to Bitcoin and Ethereum. As a co-founder of Ripple, Schwartz's early investment in XRP ended up earning him more than his investments in Bitcoin and Ethereum. Schwartz once held 26 million XRP and also owned roughly 1,000 Bitcoin (BTC) and 40,000 Ethereum (ETH) tokens. However, he has one regret regarding his cryptocurrency investments, admitting that he sold his Ethereum holdings at roughly $1.05 per token, which was too early. ETH has since traded thousands of dollars above that level, currently trading at $2,297, while his Bitcoin investment followed a similar trend, with him reducing his holdings from about 1,000 Bitcoins to less than one coin long before Bitcoin's price crossed the six-figure mark.
According to Mint, Schwartz has cut each position in crypto sharply over the years, reflecting his risk-averse nature. He previously described himself as risk-averse, preferring to lock in gains rather than wait for larger future moves. Asked what he would tell a younger version of himself, Schwartz said he would advise taking more risk in crypto. However, he conceded that his younger self likely would have ignored the guidance anyway. His current portfolio reflects this caution, with his remaining exposure sitting almost entirely in XRP and Ripple equity.
As reported by Mint, Bitcoin rose to the highest level since early February after a flurry of comments from the US and Iran sparked optimism that the conflict in the Middle East may be heading toward a resolution. Bitcoin broke through the higher bound of the narrow range it's been trading in since the war broke out in late February, topping $78,000 for the first time since Feb. 3. Other digital assets also pushed higher, with Ethereum strengthening 3.3% and XRP increasing 2.4% as part of a broader risk-on rally. Equities climbed after Iran announced that the Strait of Hormuz is now 'completely open' for commercial traffic.
