Ripple Unveils New DeFi Roadmap as XRP Bleeds

Ripple has rolled out its Institutional DeFi roadmap for the XRP Ledger (XRPL), outlining plans to position XRP as a core asset for on-chain credit, liquidity, and global payments.Valentine's Day Sale - 70% OffUnlock hedge fund-level data and powerful investing tools for smarter, sharper decisions Stay ahead of the market with the latest news and analysis and maximize your portfolio's potential The blueprint details Ripple's effort to evolve XRPL from a fast-settlement network into a compliant financial operating environment tailored for institutional use. At the same time, the XRP price failed to break out of its downtrend and remains below $1.50. Ripple Outlines Institutional DeFi Framework for XRPL Ripple's 2026 roadmap outlines a shift to reposition the XRP Ledger as an institutional DeFi operating system rather than a payments-only network. According to the crypto company, the ledger now supports regulated on-chain finance across three institutional pillars: payments and FX, collateral and liquidity, and credit and financing. These pillars define how institutions issue, move, and settle value on XRPL today. Live mainnet capabilities supporting this framework include: Multi-Purpose Tokens (MPTs): A flexible token standard for tokenized funds, bonds, and structured instruments Credentials: Privacy-preserving identity attestations for KYC- and compliance-based access Permissioned Domains: Controlled environments that gate participation based on verified credentials XRP at the protocol layer: Used for transaction fees, reserve requirements, and liquidity bridging Ripple said these features form the foundation for compliant tokenization, settlement, and institutional market access on the XRP Ledger. XRPL Expansion Continues Despite XRP Weakness The XRP price has remained under pressure over the past few weeks, influenced by the broader market pullback. On a monthly basis, the cryptocurrency is down more than 30%, reflecting sustained selling pressure and cautious market sentiment. Despite the price weakness, Ripple said development on the XRP Ledger has continued as the company advances its institutional DeFi roadmap focused on regulated market infrastructure. The private company noted the next phase of the roadmap will extend XRPL's capabilities across privacy, market access, and settlement. Planned enhancements include Confidential Transfers for MPT and the launch of an Institutional DeFi Portal to help institutions explore tokenization, payments, and on-chain credit use cases. Ripple also highlighted ongoing work on the Permissioned DEX and Smart Escrows, designed to support regulated secondary markets and programmable settlement. These upgrades are intended to support real-world financial use cases rather than experimental DeFi activity. Is XRP Still a Good Investment? Track the price and performance of XRP and your favorite cryptocurrencies through TipRanks cryptocurrency centre. Get more information by clicking the image below.