Ripple’s path to becoming a licensed bank is stirring fresh speculation about XRP’s upside after Teucrium CEO Sal Gilbertie outlined how the crypto firm’s token holdings could reshape its balance sheet — and the market’s view of XRP.
How a bank charter could change Ripple
A crypto commentator recently shared a video interview with Teucrium’s Sal Gilbertie and Paul Barron of the Paul Barron Network that lays out a bold scenario: if Ripple secures a full banking license, the XRP it holds in escrow could be treated as a regulated, strategic asset and materially boost the company’s capitalization. Gilbertie pointed to Ripple’s roughly 40 million XRP held in escrow and argued that, once inside a bank-style balance sheet, those tokens could dramatically increase Ripple’s market position.
Price targets and the “top-20 bank” thesis
Gilbertie suggested that a licensed Ripple could push XRP toward $3 — and that level, he argued, would be consistent with Ripple becoming a top-20 bank globally by market cap. He went further, noting that if XRP climbed to “multiples of $3,” Ripple’s valuation could scale proportionally and potentially vault it even higher among global financial institutions.
Traditional finance goes on-chain?
The interview also touched on broader convergence between traditional finance and blockchain. When asked whether leveraged ETFs and other legacy instruments might eventually exist on-chain, Gilbertie was unequivocal: yes — he expects financial instruments to migrate to blockchains over time, signaling a future where DeFi and traditional finance are deeply integrated.
Where things stand with Ripple’s charter
Ripple has taken concrete steps toward regulated banking status in the U.S. The company previously received conditional preliminary approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for a national trust bank charter — a meaningful but not final step toward full banking authority. Ripple continues to expand its payments infrastructure through acquisitions, partnerships and share buybacks while it works through regulatory approvals.
XRP price snapshot and market reaction
XRP is currently trading around $1.43 after a mid-week pop to about $1.60 (a roughly 14% rally that has since pared back). Despite the pullback, many analysts remain bullish on XRP, particularly if regulatory progress for Ripple accelerates and token utility or demand increases under a bank model.
Bottom line
The idea that Ripple could transform from a crypto-focused payments firm into a licensed bank has energized a narrative that XRP’s on-chain holdings could be leveraged to drive a much larger market valuation. While full OCC approval is still pending, the discussion highlights how regulatory recognition — combined with custody of a major native token — could reshape both Ripple’s corporate profile and broader expectations for XRP’s price.
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