XRP falls 9.3% to $1.19 as backlash grows against Ripple leadership

Julia, a crypto enthusiast and active commentator on digital assets, has drawn attention to shifting attitudes within the XRP community. She remarked that in only one year, the collective sentiment surrounding $XRP has moved from optimism about overtaking established financial networks to widespread disappointment and blame toward Ripple’s top executives.

The narrative shift among XRP supporters

This reversal illustrates intensifying divisions among stakeholders. Once seen as a front-runner to disrupt global payment infrastructure, XRP is now facing internal criticisms. Ripple, the technology firm behind XRP, is led by CEO Brad Garlinghouse and Chief Technology Officer David Schwartz. Both executives have become focal points in recent debates about XRP’s future.

Garlinghouse recently offered an institutional-focused five-year outlook for XRP, emphasizing partnerships and enterprise solutions. In contrast, Schwartz stated that broad retail adoption would be the next major achievement. Critics highlighted this inconsistency, arguing that XRP had traditionally been promoted as a tool for institutional use cases rather than grassroots consumer adoption.

In just one year, the XRP narrative shifted from “We will replace SWIFT” to “XRP is a complete failure, and it’s all Brad and David’s fault,” according to Julia, who highlighted the rapid change in community sentiment surrounding the project.

Ripple executives under increased scrutiny

Both Garlinghouse and Schwartz are facing pointed questions. Some observers have questioned Garlinghouse’s decision to sell personal XRP holdings at the same time he promoted the token’s prospects to the wider community. Others are concerned about RLUSD, Ripple’s dollar-pegged stablecoin, absorbing much of the payment utility that XRP was originally touted for. This has led to doubts over whether institutional clients are turning to RLUSD instead of XRP in practical cross-border transfer scenarios.

A reporter recently questioned Garlinghouse about the shift in institutional demand toward RLUSD, prompting further debate among investors and supporters. Meanwhile, Schwartz’s prioritization of retail adoption was met with skepticism by long-term backers accustomed to messaging that highlighted banks and major financial firms as the main targets for integration.

Mini dictionary: RLUSD is Ripple’s US dollar-backed stablecoin, designed to facilitate fast and secure transactions between digital assets and traditional fiat currencies on Ripple’s network.

XRP’s price drop compounds discontent

Market dynamics have amplified the unease. After the recent Democratic victories in the US midterm elections, digital asset prices broadly declined, with XRP dropping to $1.19, reflecting a 9.32% decrease. Many long-time XRP supporters, who have endured regulatory delays and slow-moving adoption, are now expressing frustration with the leadership and direction of the project.

This price movement, combined with internal disagreements, has left some community members disillusioned with the promises made by Ripple executives.

Community backlash and legislative disappointment

Following Julia’s remarks, several XRP holders echoed her concerns. Some accused Garlinghouse and Schwartz of misleading the community and failing to deliver key milestones. Others raised suspicions about executives selling personal holdings while suggesting retail investors buy more. There was also growing frustration over what some see as a strategic pivot away from institutional adoption toward retail engagement.

Complaints extended to the regulatory front. After the defeat of the CLARITY Act in the Senate, with Democrats voting against the legislation and now controlling both chambers of Congress, pessimism about regulatory progress for cryptocurrencies increased among XRP supporters.

Multiple investors voiced that executives encouraged buying while selling themselves and questioned the strategic shift away from the focus on institutional adoption that had initially drawn much of XRP’s support base.

Just one year earlier, several industry experts maintained that Ripple was on the verge of replacing SWIFT in global settlements. However, the prevailing view now includes deep skepticism and growing dissatisfaction with Ripple’s senior leadership.