Ripple Could Become One of the World’s Largest Banks

Sal Gilbertie, CEO of the investment firm Teucrium, has outlined a scenario that could significantly reshape Ripple’s position in the global financial system. Speaking with Paul Barron, he suggested that if Ripple were to obtain a banking license while retaining its XRP reserves, the company could become one of the best-capitalized banks in the world.

Gilbertie emphasized that the cornerstone of this theory lies in Ripple’s substantial XRP holdings. According to him, the company controls approximately 40 billion XRP. One potential strategy would involve Ripple keeping these tokens on its balance sheet as capital, rather than selling them on the open market after securing a banking license.

At an XRP price of around $3, such an approach could place Ripple among the top 20 best-capitalized banks globally, Gilbertie noted. If the token’s value were to rise beyond that level, the company could climb even higher in the rankings of financial institutions.

He also pointed to the broader context of the cryptocurrency market’s development. In his view, the sector could grow far larger than many currently anticipate. The value of crypto projects is not determined solely by the amount of capital in circulation, but also by the fact that a significant portion of assets is held long-term and does not enter the market.

During the discussion, Gilbertie highlighted additional factors that could boost the importance of Ripple and XRP. One would be obtaining a banking license and choosing to retain its token reserves. Another key driver could be the expansion of blockchain-based payment systems, which may gradually replace traditional banking infrastructure over time.

He further noted that blockchain technology could unlock vast amounts of capital within the global banking system. Currently, banks are required to hold funds in multiple countries to facilitate international transfers. A blockchain-based system could reduce this need and significantly improve financial efficiency.

Although Gilbertie did not provide a specific price forecast for XRP, he stressed that the continued development of blockchain technology and growing interest in cryptocurrencies could greatly increase the sector’s role in the global economy in the years ahead.