Coming back from New York City, Zach Rector released a video expressing that his bullish outlook on XRP is stronger than ever before.
His main takeaway from the 10th annual Ripple Swell Conference is that institutional adoption is no longer just a theory, as it is actively taking place on the XRP Ledger right now.
Swell Opens its Doors
For the first time ever, Ripple opened the Swell conference to the broader XRP community, a shift that Rector highlighted as highly significant.
While past events were restricted solely to Ripple’s institutional partners, this year brought XRP holders, ecosystem builders, banks, and institutions together in the same room. This modification alone demonstrates the immense growth of the ecosystem.
SWELL confirms it’s happening on XRP! pic.twitter.com/dEHB1JkLch
— Zach Rector (@ZachRector7) November 2, 2026
Bankers At a Crypto Conference
The demographic of the attendees left the strongest impression on Rector. Describing both the 2025 event and this year’s gathering, he noted that it felt more like being surrounded by bankers than attending a standard cryptocurrency conference. Interacting with these institutions provided Rector with direct insight into the assets they intend to bring to the ledger alongside the volume of liquidity they plan to inject.
Although he noted that this institutional adoption has arrived later than originally scheduled, the institutions themselves have officially arrived.
Brad Garlinghouse on XRP
During a meeting with Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse at Swell, Rector received a clear and direct message: Ripple has absolutely no intention of abandoning XRP. Passing along the CEO’s words, Rector stated that “XRP is the heartbeat of Ripple,” with the company planning to maintain its XRP holdings and actively utilize the asset.
Garlinghouse emphasized that the firm fully recognizes the value of XRP and appreciates the high quality of the ledger developing around it.
RLUSD and Liquidity Growth
Rector linked RLUSD directly to the future path of XRP. The expansion of RLUSD, combined with a wider influx of assets and liquidity onto the XRP Ledger, naturally generates tangible demand for XRP. In his view, higher on-chain activity directly translates to increased demand for the native asset.
As an example, he referenced the timeframe following the November 2024 election, during which XRP experienced a surge of over 600%. While refusing to guarantee a repetition of those exact numbers, stating, “I’m not that guy that’s gonna guarantee anything,” he emphasized that his confidence is rooted entirely in what he witnessed firsthand at Swell.
Where Rector Stands
Leaving New York with absolute certainty regarding XRP’s trajectory, Rector announced his intention to buy any market dips that push XRP back toward the $1 mark. Clarifying that this choice is his own and does not constitute financial advice, his post-Swell conviction remains unwavering. He anticipates a historic upcoming cycle, driven by the fact that banks are no longer just observing XRP—they are actively building on the ledger.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ripple Swell Conference?
The Ripple Swell Conference is an annual event hosted by Ripple. For its 10th anniversary, the conference opened its doors to the wider XRP community, ecosystem builders, and financial institutions for the first time.
What did Zach Rector discover at Swell?
Zach Rector observed that institutional adoption on the XRP Ledger is actively happening right now, noting a heavy presence of bankers and financial institutions preparing to deploy liquidity and assets onto the ledger.
What is Ripple’s stance on XRP according to Brad Garlinghouse?
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse confirmed that the company has no plans to abandon XRP, calling it the “heartbeat of Ripple” and stating that the firm intends to hold and utilize the asset.
How does RLUSD affect XRP demand?
According to Rector, the growth of RLUSD and overall asset liquidity arriving on the XRP Ledger directly correlates to increased on-chain activity and higher demand for the native XRP asset.
Explained in this article
Cryptocurrency
A digital currency secured by cryptography and recorded on a blockchain, without a central bank issuing it.
Crypto prices are volatile, and governments are still deciding how to regulate it.
More about Cryptocurrency
Written by
Elara Winter
