- Ripple President predicts 2026 as crypto’s “production era”, focusing on stablecoins, tokenization, custody, and institutional adoption.
- Stablecoins are positioned as the backbone of global settlement, sparking concern among XRP holders who see this as sidelining XRP’s original bridge-asset role.
- Stablecoins are positioned as the backbone of global settlement, sparking concern among XRP holders who see this as sidelining XRP’s original bridge-asset role.
Ripple President Monica Long’s 2026 outlook has managed to ignite a wave of backlash across the XRP community after unveiling a bold set of predictions for the crypto industry in 2026, with many investors pointing out a glaring omission: XRP itself.
Following what she described as “one of crypto’s most exciting years,” Long said the sector is now entering its “production era,” where trusted infrastructure and real-world utility will drive institutional adoption at scale. But while her outlook focused heavily on stablecoins, tokenized assets, and institutional finance, the absence of any direct reference to XRP quickly became a flashpoint for criticism.
Ripple President Outlines Vision for Crypto’s “Production Era”
In her thread on X, Long argued that 2026 will mark a turning point for institutional crypto adoption, as banks, corporates, and financial providers move beyond pilot programs into full-scale deployment.
According to Long, the industry will see trusted infrastructure and real utility become the primary drivers of adoption across stablecoins, on-chain assets, crypto custody, and broader institutional investment. She described the period as a “true inflection point” for the Internet of Value, where crypto becomes embedded in the core of global finance.
Stablecoins Positioned as the Backbone of Global Settlement
Long’s first major prediction centered on stablecoins, which she said will become the foundation of global settlement rather than an alternative payment rail. As firms such as Visa and Stripe integrate stablecoins directly into payment flows, she expects business-to-business transactions to become the primary growth engine.
Corporations, she argued, will increasingly rely on digital dollars to unlock real-time liquidity and improve capital efficiency. For many XRP holders, however, this framing was controversial. Several interpreted it as positioning stablecoins, rather than XRP, as the centerpiece of Ripple’s long-term settlement vision.
Also Read: Why Is XRP Price Falling Today?
After one of crypto’s most exciting years (and Ripple’s), the industry is entering its production era. In 2026 we’ll see the institutionalization of crypto — trusted infrastructure and real utility will push banks, corporates, and providers from pilots to scale — across…
— Monica Long (@MonicaLongSF) January 20, 2026
Crypto Becomes the Operating Layer of Modern Finance
Long’s second prediction suggested that crypto is rapidly shedding its speculative image. In 2026, she forecast that roughly half of Fortune 500 companies would have direct crypto exposure or formalized digital asset treasury strategies.
These firms, she said, will actively hold tokenized assets, on-chain Treasury bills, stablecoins, and programmable financial instruments, effectively making crypto the operating layer of modern finance.
While the projection underscored accelerating institutional adoption, critics noted that XRP was again absent from the narrative, despite its longstanding positioning as a bridge asset for global payments. Turning to capital markets, Long highlighted crypto ETFs as a growing gateway for institutional exposure, while noting they still represent only a small fraction of the broader market.
She predicted that collateral mobility will emerge as a major use case, with 5% to 10% of capital markets settlement moving on-chain as adoption scales. This shift, she argued, could unlock new efficiencies across clearing and settlement.
Custody and M&A Signal Industry Maturity
Long’s final prediction focused on consolidation. She pointed to $8.6 billion in crypto M&A activity in 2025, driven largely by institutions, and said custody will become the next major driver of consolidation.
As custody services commoditize, she expects vertical integration and multi-custodian strategies to expand, with around half of the world’s top 50 banks formalizing new custody relationships in 2026. The emphasis on custody infrastructure further reinforced her view that crypto is moving into a mature, institutional phase
XRP Community Reacts: “Zero Mention of XRP”
The response from the XRP community was swift and pointed. One user, Saul, summarized the frustration bluntly: “Zero mention of XRP.” Another, Twoquiik, joked that a missing prediction should have been “$XRP price explosion.”
Others took a more critical tone, with Ashraf noting “Not XRP but RLUSD,” referencing Ripple’s stablecoin ambitions. Some reactions were more alarmed. “Stablecoins: The default for global settlement — nail in the coffin for XRP,” wrote one commenter, while another simply asked, “What about XRP, Monica?”
A Growing Disconnect Between Vision and Investor Expectations
The controversy highlights a widening gap between Ripple’s institutional strategy and the expectations of long-time XRP holders. While Long’s predictions emphasize stablecoins, custody, tokenization, and capital markets infrastructure, many investors continue to view XRP as central to Ripple’s long-term value proposition.
For now, Ripple’s leadership appears focused on positioning the company at the heart of institutional crypto adoption. Whether this strategy ultimately strengthens or weakens confidence in XRP remains an open question, but the backlash shows that silence on the token is increasingly difficult for the community to ignore.
Also Read: XRP Is Setting Up for a Great Swing Trade – See Short and Long-Term Targets
