A 2021 Citibank document that used the phrase “Regulated Internet of Value” has sparked a new debate about XRP. Researcher Jesse from Apex Crypto Insights argues that the wording was later changed to “Regulated Liability Network” because the connection to Ripple was too obvious.
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He claims that this paper trail, along with years of weak price movement, suggests the token may be held back for reasons beyond normal market trading.
### A Price That Would Not Move
Jesse first points to XRP’s price chart. The token hit $3.84 during the 2018 bull run and later reached $3.60 earlier in this cycle, but it has mostly moved sideways for the past decade while Bitcoin climbed much higher. Jesse says this mismatch is hard to explain under normal market conditions, and in his view, suppression is one possible explanation.
He doesn’t present this as proof. Jesse frames it as his opinion, but he connects it to a broader argument about how the financial system might change if XRP takes on a deeper role beyond simple payments.
### The Internet of Value Thesis
Jesse argues that XRP should be seen as part of an “internet of value,” not just another crypto asset. He links this idea to Ripple’s Interledger Protocol, which he says is designed to move value the same way the internet moves information. From there, he says the trail runs through several institutional documents and speeches.
According to Jesse, Citibank’s Tony McLaughlin has described the Regulated Liability Network and the shared ledger concept as the same thing. He also notes that the Bank for International Settlements has discussed a unified ledger that could replace correspondent banking and even Swift.
Jesse’s case is built on this chain of references. He argues that if major banks are preparing a new settlement system, an asset tied to that system may not be allowed to swing wildly in price, since volatility would be a problem for anything meant to serve as a reserve or settlement layer.
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### What the Theory Still Lacks
Jesse doesn’t provide hard evidence of manipulation. His argument is based on interpretation rather than any public proof of coordinated price control. In the end, the question remains unresolved, with no clear conclusion about market behavior.
Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on the topic Is XRP Being Suppressed Researcher Explains Why the Token Isnt Rising
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What does it mean that XRP is being suppressed
It means that the price of XRP is being artificially held down or prevented from rising as much as it naturally would often due to external factors like legal issues or market manipulation
2 Why isnt XRP going up like Bitcoin or Ethereum
The main reason is the ongoing legal battle between Ripple and the US Securities and Exchange Commission This uncertainty scares off big investors and limits where you can trade it
3 Is the SEC the only reason XRPs price is low
No but its the biggest reason Other factors include a large supply of XRP being released from escrow and general market sentiment that favors other coins
4 Can I still buy and sell XRP right now
Yes you can However some major US exchanges delisted XRP during the lawsuit so availability and liquidity are lower than for other top coins
5 Will XRP ever rise in price
Many analysts believe it will if Ripple wins or settles the SEC lawsuit Without a legal resolution its price is likely to remain suppressed
IntermediateLevel Questions
6 How does the SEC lawsuit actually suppress XRPs price
The lawsuit labels XRP as a security in the US This makes large institutional investors avoid it due to legal risk It also stops XRP from being listed on many major US exchanges reducing demand
7 What is the escrow system and does it hurt XRPs price
Ripple holds billions of XRP in escrow and releases 1 billion tokens monthly If too many are sold quickly it increases supply and pushes the price down Critics say this creates constant selling pressure
8 Is there evidence of market manipulation suppressing XRP
Some researchers point to patterns where XRPs price suddenly drops during lowvolume hours or before major news However direct proof of manipulation is hard to find and much of the suppression is legalregulatory not criminal