Ripple’s RLUSD Stablecoin Speculation Fever Ahead of Official Launch
Although it has not officially launched, some people are willing to spend up to $836 just to have the “honor” of owning the first RLUSD stablecoins on DEXs.
Launch timeline and scope
Ripple, the blockchain company associated with the XRP Ledger (XRP), will officially launch the RLUSD stablecoin today (December 17, US time).
The stablecoin will be listed on crypto exchanges and platforms such as Uphold, MoonPay, Archax, CoinMENA, and expand to Bitso, Bullish, Bitstamp, Mercado Bitcoin, and Independent Reserve in the following weeks.
Ripple has chosen to launch RLUSD under the supervision of NYDFS, one of the highest legal standards globally. As Coin68 reported, RLUSD received final approval from the New York Department of Financial Services last week, paving the way for the stablecoin to be widely deployed.
CEO Brad Garlinghouse emphasized:
“As the US moves towards a clearer regulatory framework, we expect stablecoins like RLUSD to gain widespread adoption due to the practical applications and trust that Ripple has built over the years.”
Initially, RLUSD will be available in the Americas, Asia-Pacific, UK and Middle East markets through distribution partners. However, RLUSD cannot launch in the European Union (EU) due to the lack of a MiCA regulatory license. The company is still actively looking for a solution to enter this market.
RLUSD Speculative Fever Ahead of Listing
In the lead up to its launch, RLUSD has attracted special attention from speculators. On on-chain trading markets like Xaman, bidding prices for RLUSD have climbed from 500 XRP to 836 XRP, or about $1,200 for 1 RLUSD. The real value of RLUSD is pegged at around $1.
David Schwartz, CTO of Ripple, explained that some people may be willing to pay a premium for the “honor” of owning the first RLUSD on DEXs. He warned:
“Please do not FOMO on a stablecoin. This is not a get-rich-quick opportunity. The price will quickly return to near $1 when the supply stabilizes.”
RLUSD, although pegged to $1 thanks to a reserve of USD deposits, US government bonds, and cash equivalents, can still be volatile in the first hours after its release due to limited liquidity. Experts warn that the price may deviate from the initial peg before the market stabilizes.
In addition, Ripple has just added two members to its stablecoin advisory board, including:
· Raghuram Rajan, former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.
· Kenneth Montgomery, former First Vice President and COO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
They join previously announced members Sheila Bair (former FDIC Chair) and Chris Larsen (Co-founder of Ripple) to support the RLUSD development strategy.
Stablecoins play a key role in connecting the digital asset market with traditional finance, providing liquidity for trading, cross-border payments, and blockchain transactions. Ripple is entering the competition in the potentially lucrative but fiercely competitive $200 billion stablecoin market, currently dominated by Tether’s USDT ($140 billion) and Circle’s USDC ($40 billion).
