All Eyes on XRP, But the Demand Just Isn’t There — Yet

• XRP gains institutional traction, yet retail participation remains unusually low.
• On-chain activity drops, with fewer new addresses and daily users.
• Bullish developments fail to spark widespread investor excitement.

Ripple’s XRP is in the spotlight, yet the crowd hasn’t shown up to cheer. Despite major wins across institutions and regulators, retail interest keeps hitting the snooze button. April ended with XRP climbing 11%, while news of ETFs and a green-lit stablecoin made waves. Momentum looks real, the fuel seems ready, but the ignition still hasn’t fired. Something feels off. The rally feels more like a whisper than a roar.

Ripple Delivers Firepower, Without Any Applause

XRP gained solid ground last month, rising 11% in April alone. But the price move didn’t ride the empty hype. Serious players joined the charge. Over 900 million XRP found homes in institutional treasuries during that same period. That’s a clear sign big money recognizes long-term potential. Meanwhile, Ripple landed a spot ETF launch in Brazil and welcomed a futures listing on Wall Street. That kind of recognition marks a new level of credibility.

Ripple’s native stablecoin, RLUSD , received a nod from the U.S. Department of the Treasury — a rare milestone. That approval places RLUSD on equal footing with giants like USDC and USDT. Every move points to utility beyond speculation. Despite those wins, the average trader hasn’t reacted. XRP Ledger activity reveals a fading heartbeat among newcomers.

New wallet creation has plunged since December, even as price action returned to previous highs. The trend doesn’t stop there. Daily active addresses have dropped 46% since January. Fewer users means fewer transactions. That’s not the momentum one expects during a rally fueled by fresh demand.

Solid Structure, But No Stampede

Months ago, Binance saw over 1 billion XRP flow off the exchange. Today, that number has shrunk to 108 million. Traders appear cautious, holding tokens close rather than making bold moves. With fewer inflows, fewer trades, and stagnant social buzz, XRP seems caught in a holding pattern. Still, the belief hasn’t died.

Bold calls for a return to the $3 mark continue to echo through crypto circles. The foundation looks strong. Institutions are backing the token. Regulators are recognizing Ripple’s ecosystem. Technicals hold steady. Yet the crowd remains hesitant. Every piece of the puzzle seems to fit — from macro momentum to network infrastructure.

Without renewed energy from smaller investors, XRP’s rally is crawling instead of sprinting. For now, XRP is like a rocket waiting for a countdown. Engines hum, fuel tanks brim, launchpad clears — but the liftoff remains delayed.