How to Buy Ripple | Buy XRP in 4 Steps (September 2026)

What is Ripple?

XRP is a popular, open-source, cryptocurrency, which boasts attributes such as fast settlement times and a fixed supply.

XRP is most commonly associated with Ripple Labs, as this U.S. based company controls a majority of the 100 billion XRP tokens in existence.

Due to the percentage of XRP held by Ripple Labs, a complex relationship has evolved, over time.  This has resulted in much confusion when differentiating between XRP and Ripple Labs.

Will Ripple Be Publicly Listed?

While it is current impossible to predict with any certainty if the stock will eventually be listed on a public exchange, it is currently possible to purchase Pre-IPO stock, to learn more visit our investing in Ripple stock guide.

What does it do?

XRP is typically viewed as a ‘bridging currency’.  This means it can be used as an intermediary, facilitating the exchange of currencies.  It is also able to make fast and cheap international payments a reality.

How does Ripple work?

Underpinning XRP is not one of the commonly used POW or POS protocols.  Rather, XRP utilizes a consensus system, comprised of anyone that desires to run an XRP node.  Despite Ripple Labs controlling the majority supply of XRP, the ability for anyone to set up a node gives credence to the argument that the cryptocurrency is, indeed, decentralized.

Nodes on the network are responsible for verifying the validity and time-based order of transactions taking place.  Agreement between nodes on this data occurs in under 5 seconds.

Projected Developments?

Due to regulatory concerns over the status of XRP, as a security, the projected growth of the cryptocurrency is difficult to pin down.  While there will, no doubt, continue to be development of services utilizing XRP, growth be kept in check while its status remains in limbo.

If deemed a security, the road ahead will be tough for XRP.  If cleared of this designation and the adoption of the cryptocurrency is seen among world banks, XRP looks to have a bright future.

Un-phased by the uncertainty of classification, Ripple has indicated and shown a propensity for continued development of their platform, and product adoption.

Underlying Ideology?

To date, it appears as though the ideologies that drive Ripple Labs are not to overthrow traditional banking systems, but to help them evolve.

To help them evolve, Ripple Labs has been working hand-in-hand with banks, for years now, essentially counting on the transition of banks, rather than the complete replacement of our current system.

Acceptance and Controversies?

Ripple has done well to achieve modest adoption of XRP, in recent years.  Various banks and forward-thinking companies have run programs trialing the usage of this cryptocurrency.

Alongside this acceptance, there are two main controversies that have continued to plague XRP over the years.

1. Manipulation – While this has not been proven to be the case, there are many who believe Ripple Labs manipulates the supply of XRP available to the public, in an effort to suit their own needs.
2. Clientele – Many proponents in the world of cryptocurrencies are in it to build a world not reliant upon traditional banks. Ripple Labs, however, has gone down a path that would see them serve the very institutions that Bitcoin was built to circumvent.  While many are not swayed by this argument, there are those that do not support Ripple Labs and XRP, simply based on their goals.

Regulation?

Ripple Labs and XRP find themselves in a state of disarray, with regards to regulation.  While they remain steadfast in their belief that XRP is not a security, there are those who believe otherwise.  This has resulted in ongoing lawsuits arguing this point.

To date, there is no definitive answer on the classification of XRP.

*July 14, 2023 UPDATE*

After a multi-year court battle, Judge Torres, who was presiding over the case, announced a split decision surrounding the charges laid against Ripple Labs by the SEC.

“For the foregoing reasons, te SEC’s motion for summary judgment is GRANTED as to the Institutional Sales, and otherwise DENIED.  Defendants’ motion for summary judgment is GRANTED as to the Programmatic Sales, the Other Distributions, and Larsen’s and Garlinghouse’s sales, and DENIED as to the Institutional Sales.”

Simply put, Ripple was found guilty of selling unregistered securitiesectly to institutions, as these were clearly viewed as investment contracts.  Outside of this point, which is in favor of the SEC, it is widely viewed that Ripple ‘won’ the case.  It was found that both programmatic sales of XRP and those made by Larsen & Garlinghouse did not constitute the sale of unregistered securities.

This decision was made due to the following distinction.

“…the vast majority of individuals who purchased XRP from digital asset exchanges did not invest their money in Ripple at all.  An Institutional Buer knowingly purchased XRPectly from Ripple pursuant to a contract, but the economic reality is that a Programmatic Buyer stood in the same shoes as a secondary market purchaser who did not know to whom or what it was paying its money…Therefore, having considered the economic reality and totality of circumstances, the Court concludes that Ripple’s Programmatic Sales of XRP did not constitute the offer and sale of investment contracts.”

These rulings are significant, as many of the circumstances of the case and points made echo those of other digital assets on the market.  While each and every case is unique, a modest level of clarity has now been provided for the status of altcoins.

While the ruling may be challenged by the SEC, digital asset exchanges have already begun relisting the asset now that the fear of regulatory violation has diminished.  Moving forward, a trial will decide whether Larson and Garlinghouse knowingly aided in the illegalities that the company did take part in.

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