Crypto pundit SMQKE reminds XRP holders of the token's historic 350x returns between 2017 and 2018, far outpacing Bitcoin's 14x and Ethereum's 100x gains during the same period. He emphasizes that this price surge occurred before Ripple's major institutional acquisitions, which now total over $3 billion since 2017.
Key moves include the 2023 acquisition of Metaco for $250 million, providing bank-grade custody used by G-SIBs, and the 2024 acquisition of Standard Custody, a New York-regulated trust services provider. In 2025, Ripple acquired Hidden Road (now Ripple Prime) for $1.25 billion, a prime brokerage clearing trillions annually, along with Rail, GTreasury, and Palisade.
SMQKE argues these acquisitions create a stronger foundation for durable price appreciation, potentially integrating XRP into SWIFT, FedNow, and DTCC. He notes that past returns may only be a preview of future network value. Former Ripple executive Marcus Treacher stated XRP is a long-term play for transforming global payments, emphasizing that utility, not news, drives price.
At the time of writing, XRP trades at $1.39.
