Bitwise Strategist: XRP Shifting From Crypto Bet to Fintech Infrastructure as Institutions Increase Allocations

Gate News message, April 23 — Juan Leon, Senior Investment Strategist at Bitwise, argued this week that institutional and high-net-worth portfolios are moving beyond minimal crypto exposure toward more substantial allocations. Traditionally capped between 1% and 5%, these portfolios could comfortably reach 10% over the next few years, Leon said.

Morgan Stanley recently recommended a 7% allocation, Leon noted, marking a shift from the earlier 1% baseline. Bitcoin is capturing hard asset demand, while Ethereum, Solana, and XRP are increasingly capturing growth exposure. Ripple's stablecoin RLUSD, built on the XRP ledger, has grown its market cap nearly tenfold over the past year, from roughly $100-200 million to between $1.5-1.9 billion. The GENIUS Act, U.S. stablecoin legislation passed last year, served as the catalyst for RLUSD's transformation from a niche product into a serious payment rail.

Leon emphasized that institutions are not buying XRP as a speculative token but as a fintech infrastructure play. Cross-border payments, remittances, stablecoin settlement, and Ripple's treasury management acquisition are folding into a single investment thesis. "I think they are looking at it as a multifaceted financial growth opportunity," Leon said.