Pundit Says XRP Price Is Not A ‘Crypto’ Question, But A Systemically Important Liquidity Asset

[Ben Graham]

A crypto analyst has provided a new update on the XRP price, highlighting its role as a systemically important liquidity asset. According to the pundit, its price dynamics go beyond the typical crypto speculation, emphasizing its value as a foundational financial tool for global liquidity, settlement, and treasury management. 

XRP Price Signals Value Beyond Crypto Speculation

On January 27, crypto analyst and investor Rob Cunningham shared a new take on the XRP price that challenges conventional crypto thinking. He emphasized that the question of XRP’s value is not primarily about crypto speculation but about balance sheets, liquidity, and risk management. He also argued that understanding the altcoin requires viewing it as a structural tool within the global financial system rather than just a market-traded asset.

Cunningham noted that when XRP is treated as plumbing, neutral collateral, and a source of settlement certainty, its price logic will stop looking like Bitcoin’s. He described XRP as a systemically important liquidity asset, meaning its valuation reflects systemic function rather than market hype. This framing positions XRP as an essential infrastructure for liquidity and cross-border settlement. 

The crypto pundit also cited a previous commentary from Ripple’s CTO Joel Katz, who reportedly argued that XRP’s price would need to be well above $200 to achieve its intended purpose. According to Katz, this price target is necessary to make the token a cost-effective neutral bridge of liquidity and settlement globally. 

Building on this, Cunningham concluded that regulatory clarity could come first for XRP, followed by adoption, and that price would then adjust. The analyst underscored the importance of maintaining patience, noting that the token’s future is inevitable once its functional purpose is fully recognized and integrated into global financial systems. 

Price When Driven By Global Liquidity And Settlement

In his post, Cunningham referenced an image illustrating XRP’s potential flow, liquidity, and price relationships. The data highlighted the price levels XRP’s price could reach if driven by global liquidity and settlements. 

According to the image, if XRP captures just 15% of SWIFT’s annual flow, it would represent $22.5 trillion in yearly liquidity processed through the cryptocurrency. At 25% XRP settlement rate and tight liquidity corridors, the yearly XRP-settled flow would total $5.6 trillion. Notably, the liquidity required to support these flows depends on its velocity, which ranges from 1:6 to 1:12 per year. 

Based on an annual flow of $5.6 trillion and a buffer of 2x to 5x, Cunningham estimates the required XRP liquidity would range from $280 billion to $700 billion. This calculation reflects the treasury scale of XRP necessary to absorb and settle global flows effectively. 

The price scenarios in the image show a wide range, depending on settlement and treasury reserve assumptions. The base case assumes a price range of $2.50 to $7.50 for XRP, while full ripple effects could push the token to $10 to $200. If XRP were to function as a major reserve currency, the image suggests its price could reach $50 to $100 or higher.