The actual use of XRP has again been the focus of discussion, according to external media, as XRP Ledger (XRPL) trade activity has increased. A Hong Kong work paper of June 2026 used it as a case study to discuss the functions of digital tokens in the payment and monetization economy, rather than focusing only on price performance.

Include XRP cases in the study

This working paper from the Hong Kong Monetary and Financial Research Institute (HKMFI) places XRP in a broader discussion of the block-chain economy. The article mentions that XRP is used to illustrate how tokens are used as part of digital platforms, especially to reduce costs in cross-border settlements and payment scenarios.

According to external sources, such research is not equivalent to actual use, but it is indicative of the growing interest of the academic community in digital token functions. The research perspective has begun to shift more to network use and economic activity itself than to discussing only price volatility.

XRPL Transactions and ETF Funds Rising

According to the article, the agency continues to focus on faster and lower-cost cross-border settlement infrastructure. Transactions on XRPL can normally be completed within 3 to 5 seconds at a single cost of approximately 0.0002.

As use increases, the chain activity of XRPL rises. Some single-day transactions amount to 2.7 million to 3 million. At the same time, the cumulative net inflow of spot XRP ETF since its launch has exceeded $1 billion, with institutional holdings of approximately 927 million XRPs.

RLUSD and RWA expansion

In addition to payments, stable currencies in the XRPL ecology and the monetization of real-world assets are seen as supporting factors. The article mentions that Ripple USD (RLUSD) has formed a multi-billion-dollar monthly transfer in the XRPL network.

At the same time, XRPL ' s last monetization of real world assets reached $2.25 billion in the first quarter of 2026, with a single-season growth of 124 per cent. The number of network transactions has increased by 35 per cent during the price containment period, indicating that the use of the chain has not been synchronized.

According to external sources, this price-to-use dichotomy reflects a shift in the market ' s long-term judgement of XRP towards real economic activity rather than just short-term emotions or conceptual heat.