Digital asset researcher SMQKE has presented a scenario for an increased XRP price centered on two main drivers: expanding adoption and a shrinking supply.
In a recent update shared on X, SMQKE noted that the future valuation of XRP will rely on “adoption, utility, and scarcity,” and directed followers to a video detailing the supporting documents behind this thesis.
The presentation starts by examining the scale of the global cross-border payments sector. SMQKE references data from Delphi Digital, drawing on a McKinsey forecast that valued worldwide cross-border payments at $155 trillion in 2018 with expectations to climb to roughly $230 trillion by 2028.
Following this, SMQKE links that massive market size to the potential utility of XRP in payment settlement. A cited Ripple Labs whitepaper within the video outlines the firm’s foundational premise: that demand for XRP could rise, paving the way for price growth if the Ripple protocol gained widespread utilization.
This is the path to a higher-priced XRP.
XRP’s future price will determined by adoption, utility, and scarcity.
The documented walkthrough.
pic.twitter.com/Ly1kHcyFgV
— SMQKE (@SMQKEDQG) October 12, 2026
The Role of XRP in Payments
The video clarifies that while SWIFT handles messaging between banking institutions, RippleNet can function independently as a settlement mechanism. According to SMQKE, XRP acts as a bridge between distinct currencies during the settlement phase.
Additionally, the researcher points out that banks do not need an official, direct integration between SWIFT and Ripple to leverage this framework. Core banking providers like Temenos, SAP, and CGI can link via APIs to handle payment messages such as MT-103.
Drawing on data from Gibraltar Asset Management, SMQKE highlights that Ripple Payments connects in excess of 300 banks, financial institutions, and payment providers, including Bank of America, Standard Chartered, and Santander.
The discussion then shifts to transaction fees on the XRP Ledger. SMQKE points out that every network transaction requires a minor fee paid in XRP, which the protocol then burns. Consequently, as transaction volume grows, more XRP is permanently removed from circulation.
Fixed Supply and Transaction Burns
SMQKE places significant focus on the hard cap of 100 billion XRP tokens. The video notes that the XRP Ledger architecture prohibits the generation of any new XRP, meaning that every token destroyed through network fees continuously reduces the overall circulating amount.
An academic paper concerning Ripple and SWIFT is also cited, which indicates that the burning mechanism tied to transactions could progressively diminish total supply. SMQKE balances this supply contraction against the rising demand fueled by higher network engagement.
Furthermore, the researcher refers to Gibraltar Asset Management’s perspective that increased utilization of XRP drives up transactional demand. Framing this as a network effect, SMQKE cites Zagari, who asserts that elevated token usage alongside deeper network activity could pave the way for an increased XRP price.
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Regulatory Uncertainty Also Enters the Argument
SMQKE also touches upon the regulatory hurdles that previously impacted XRP within the U.S. market. Citing insights from Gibraltar Asset Management, the video notes that Ripple’s 2025 resolution with the SEC effectively cleared a major barrier that had historically weighed on XRP pricing and exchange availability.
Ultimately, the researcher loops back to the primary thesis: expanding payment volumes could drive up demand for XRP, while network transaction fees steadily erode portions of its strictly limited supply.