Here’s Why Ripple’s RLUSD May Not Be Pegged To $1 After Launch

Ripple’s newly introduced stablecoin, RLUSD, has generated attention with its unusual pricing, exceeding $1,200 per unit in pre-launch transactions. Ripple CTO David Schwartz has clarified that these fluctuations are attributed to limited supply and heightened demand during the early phase of the stablecoin’s release.

David Schwartz Explains $1,200 Ripple RLUSD Price Spike

Ripple’s USD-pegged stablecoin, RLUSD, recorded an unexpected valuation of $1,200 on decentralized exchanges (DEX) before its official launch. This has been linked to supply shortages and heightened demand for the token during its pre-release phase.

David Schwartz, Ripple’s CTO, explained that the inflated valuation stems from market tools that reflect the highest price bidders are willing to pay. He emphasized that the pricing is not the actual value of RLUSD but rather a result of limited availability. 

Schwartz assured investors that once the stablecoin reaches sufficient circulation, its price would stabilize near the $1 benchmark.

Additionally, last week, the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) granted regulatory clearance for Ripple’s RLUSD, positioning it for entry into the stablecoin market. This approval was a critical step for Ripple, as the company expands its portfolio with a regulated USD-pegged asset.

Testing for RLUSD has been underway since August, with developers and institutional partners refining its functionality to ensure parity with the U.S. dollar. The stablecoin’s official launch will boost its role in cross-border payments and liquidity solutions.

Early Transactions Indicate Demand Despite Price Instability

In the days leading up to its launch, RLUSD saw limited minting, with speculative traders engaging in high-priced transactions on platforms like the Xaman XRP wallet. Reports indicate that one such transaction priced a fraction of RLUSD at 511 XRP, equivalent to over $1,200.

Schwartz noted that some users may be paying inflated amounts for the perceived novelty of holding the first batch of Ripple’s RLUSD. He reiterated that these prices will revert to $1 once supply meets demand.

The Ripple CTO emphasized, 

“The whole point of a stablecoin is to have a stable price. Short-term changes in prices due to shortages of supply or demand are certainly possible, especially around launch, but they shouldn’t remain for very long as arbitragers rapidly fix the market. Please don’t FOMO into a stablecoin! This is not an opportunity to get rich.”

The stablecoin will complement XRP’s utility, leveraging its established exchange presence to ensure liquidity and minimize the risk of depegging. More so, reports indicate that the XRP company minted 13.9 million RLUSD tokens across the XRP Ledger and Ethereum Network. The minting includes 2.6 million RLUSD on the XRP Ledger and 11 million RLUSD on Ethereum.

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