Expert Says XRP’s Price Talk Means Little Without Real Utility

XRP-focused investor and former lawyer Fran De Olza has shared an positive long-term view on XRP, saying the token’s real value will come from its practical use in future digital markets, not short-term price predictions. Fran, who transitioned from law to investing, said he is “more interested in what XRP will solve rather than guessing numbers or dates.”

Focus on Real-World Utility, Not Just Price

Fran explained that XRP’s long-term strength depends on what industries it can power. He believes major new digital economies are forming, including micropayments, AI-driven systems, robotics, gaming, and metaverse ecosystems — all of which will require fast, cheap, global transactions.

He said that when these markets mature, XRP could play a major role thanks to its transaction speed, low fees, and scalability. However, he also said that other digital assets may benefit too, as the future will likely support multiple networks, not just one winner.

Spot XRP ETFs Could Boost Market Demand

Discussing the launch of the Canary Capital Spot XRP ETF, Fran said the ETF wave is an important development for institutional access, even though he refuses to make public price predictions.

According to him, only around 2% of XRP supply is held by retail investors, which means institutional demand could significantly change the market if it grows quickly. Canary Capital’s CEO reportedly expects $5 billion to $10 billion in early demand, which Fran says would be a strong signal for the sector.

He said that Canary Capital is a comparatively small fund and that bigger asset managers like Franklin Templeton, WisdomTree, and possibly BlackRock could create far larger demand once their XRP ETFs launch.

Institutional Interest and Banking Alignment

Fran also added that XRP is attracting attention not only from crypto traders but from mainstream banking and payment industry executives, citing appearances of Citibank and other financial leaders at Ripple’s Swell conference. He said this shift shows XRP’s narrative is evolving beyond retail speculation toward global financial infrastructure.

No Instant Price Explosion Expected

While acknowledging high curiosity around price, Fran reminded that ETF buying does not reflect immediately on spot price due to T+1 settlement, meaning funds receive their XRP the following day after capital enters the ETF.

“It may not move instantly, but if real demand shows up, the market will eventually reflect it,” he said.