XRP is Popular Among Retail Investors, While Institutions Shy Away – What Drives This Divide?

XRP, the native token of Ripple, has once again become the focal point of a contentious debate. While individual investors remain loyal, many institutions and veteran cryptocurrency experts continue to argue that it is too centralized. This divide is becoming more pronounced as the market value of XRP hovers around $180 billion, making it the third largest digital asset. The Community Debate Rekindles Old Divisions

Regarding X, attorney John E. Deaton has candidly summarized the divide: "XRP is the most hated cryptocurrency by professional traders/institutional holders. XRP is the most loved cryptocurrency by retail investors/holders." He is responding to ETF analyst Nate Geraci, who previously noted that the market capitalization of XRP is nearing 180 billion dollars, surpassing global investment giant BlackRock, while still being the "most hated or undervalued cryptocurrency asset". The debate around this topic has been lively, with critics pointing out concerns about the structure. Some X users have highlighted the pre-mined supply of XRP and Ripple's influence on network governance. "A small approved list operates the network... major changes require 80% approval," a post stated, arguing that power is concentrated in too few hands. Others also argue that Ripple's marketing partnerships are overshadowing the actual level of adoption. Meanwhile, defenders counter that much of the hostility stems from tribalism. User Kitty Leroux argues that the initial campaigns of Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) supporters, amplified by regulatory hostility, have exacerbated negative perceptions of XRP. Another user, Scotty Inkley, contends that much of this sentiment arises from competition: "BTC and ETH are slower and bulkier compared to other coins. XRP can really shine in the next five to ten years before being surpassed by a new emerging technology." This tension occurs against the backdrop of XRP making institutional breakthroughs. According to a report by CryptoPotato, XRP has become the fastest cryptocurrency to reach $1 billion in open contract value on CME futures, joining the "$1 billion club" of this exchange alongside BTC, ETH, and SOL. This milestone is often seen as a signal of deeper liquidity and increasing participation from professionals. At the same time, holders of this token are finding new ways to utilize it. Recently, the profit platform MoreMarkets has partnered with Flare to launch "XRP Earn Account," allowing investors to generate weekly profit payments without having to manage complex DeFi strategies themselves. Price Pressure Meanwhile, data from CoinGecko shows that the price of XRP is trading at $3.02 at the time of writing, up 4.2% for the week and outperforming the overall market, which has decreased by 0.5% during the same period. However, the price has decreased by 7% over the past two weeks and nearly 8% over the past month, down 17% from the all-time high of $3.65 in mid-July. Additionally, analysts warn that the cash flow from whale investors could put further pressure on the price, and they have set $2.95 as the crucial level for success or failure. According to them, a decisive recovery could pave the way for a price range from $4.20 to $4.50, while a failure could pull the Ripple token back to $2.80 or even $2.40.