The $XRP Comeback Was a Long Time Coming

I’m not very active on X, but if there’s one thing my followers know about me, it’s that I proudly hold $XRP and $ALGO, as reflected in my bio with blue tickers.

Now that everyone is buzzing about $XRP’s remarkable comeback—I want to highlight what I saw in Ripple with the naked eye that made me invest in it back in August, a time when it was largely overlooked and doubted due to its low price performance over the past few years.

From the eyes of a customer-centric crypto investor, here are the four things I spotted that Ripple was doing right, and what I did right as a DYOR crypto investor.

1. What XRP Did Right: Developer Engagement Through Local Hackathons

• What I Did Right: Staying Connected to Industry Figures

Two weeks before KBW 2024, I noticed that Sujin Keen, the founder of Glitch Hackathon whom I follow on social media, shared that she was helping XRPL organize a local hackathon in Korea. Her Instagram Stories featured images and videos of developers deeply focused on coding, suggesting high participation and strong interest in XRPL’s technology.

Not only were the footage posted on her Stories impressive, but I also discovered that XRPL had launched a dedicated website for Korean developers (xrplkorea.org). This showcased a serious commitment to localization, encouraging developers to explore and test the applicability of XRPL’s network.

With special websites dedicated to appeal to developers such as the XRPL Learning Portal, the company has been hosting local hackathons not only in South Korea—home to one of the world's highest concentrations of crypto traders—but also in Italy and Southeast Asia. Their efforts to engage developers across diverse regions were clear indicators that XRPL is not just keeping up with the rapidly evolving crypto space but actively shaping its future.

Even for traditional tech companies listed on stock markets, success often hinges on gaining support from tech professionals. It’s these professionals who must examine and use the technology to validate its functionality and cool factor, which then earns the trust of regular users, in this case investors who would drive the demand of the tokens.

Had I not been following Sujin Keen on social media, I might have completely overlooked Ripple’s developer engagement efforts. Her posts about XRPL’s hackathon initiatives opened my eyes to the project’s proactive localization and community-building strategies. This serendipitous discovery played a crucial role in my decision to invest early in $XRP.

So, if I were to share one piece of advice with fellow investors, it would be this: don’t just follow the tokens, follow the people shaping them. Staying plugged into the right networks can make all the difference in identifying early opportunities in investing in the right technologies.

2. What XRP Did Right: Doing Their Homework on Local Regions

• What I did right: Researching Beyond Social Media Buzz

What stood out even more was XRPL’s effective localization strategy. Searching XRPL-related keywords on Korea’s largest search engine, Naver, yielded community-directed posts about the hackathon. Many posts featured XRPL in their titles, building a strong, credible brand image and reinforcing trust in their technology.

Interestingly, XRPL did not rely on shilling their token or technology through KOLs on blogs or X. Instead, their approach centered on authentic engagement with developers and meaningful community-building efforts. From the perspective of a newcomer searching for a promising altcoin to invest in, I realized that they would likely encounter the same content—positive reviews, community-focused posts, and tangible evidence of XRPL's utility. These elements would naturally evoke trust and admiration for the project.

This alignment of tech validation, localized outreach, and a strong community narrative gave XRPL an edge in standing out to both developers and investors alike.

Most projects today have local communities, so it’s no longer sufficient to simply confirm whether a company has channels for non-English-speaking users. What impressed me about XRP was their strategic choice of regions and the initiatives they implemented.

• South Korea: XRP hosted a general-developer hackathon in Korea, a country known for its strong software industry and a wealth of skilled developers. This move effectively tapped into an existing talent pool while fostering goodwill among local developers.
• Southeast Asia: XRP’s presence in this region was another strategic decision, targeting an area with high crypto adoption rates and a booming startup scene. With strong support from government initiatives and venture capital, XRP’s efforts aligned with the region’s current landscape.
• Italy: The final piece of the puzzle for me was discovering XRP’s hackathon in Italy, a country where 55 universities are recognized for their research performance in blockchain and cryptography. By partnering with Roma Tre University (Università degli Studi Roma Tre), a prominent public university in Rome, XRP demonstrated a forward-thinking strategy to engage with some of the best emerging minds in the field.

When evaluating a token’s local communities, I recommend looking beyond just the existence of community channels. Instead, dig into what the project is doing with those communities. Check whether their target audience in that region makes sense, and whether they are providing the necessary resources to effectively engage with and support that audience. Projects that align their efforts with the unique strengths and needs of each region are far more likely to succeed in building a lasting impact.

3. What XRP Did Right: Developing Targeted, Customer-Centric Messaging

• What I Did Right: Shift perspectives

I dug deeper before hitting the BUY button, and one thing that sold me was how well Ripple understood their target customers and communicated their use cases. A quick glance at their website made it abundantly clear who Ripple is speaking to: CFOs, CTOs, or perhaps the interns of financial institutions, payment providers, and fintech companies looking to modernize their payment infrastructure.

I was pleased by the absence of blockchain-native jargon like TPS or Hash Rate. Instead, Ripple focuses on the value and real-world utility it delivers to its target audience. Their website is thoughtfully designed with friendly CTA buttons such as “Request a Demo” and “Talk to Our Team” strategically placed throughout the interface, alongside testimonials from Web2 companies that lend credibility to their platform.

I imagined myself as an intern tasked with researching blockchain payment solutions for a CTO. Ripple would easily land at the top of my list. The professionalism of their targeted messaging, combined with their focus on customer experience, set them apart from the average blockchain company. It signaled to me that Ripple wasn’t just building technology but was well-positioned for real-world adoption—a crucial factor for anyone looking to invest in an altcoin with long-term potential.

So, if I were to share one piece of advice with fellow investors, it would be this: analyze how a project designs its user journey - become its user. A well-structured website and clear messaging often reflect how deeply a project understands its customer. Look for elements like easy-to-follow CTAs, relatable use cases, and a focus on delivering value rather than technical jargon. These details can indicate whether the project is geared for real-world adoption and long-term success.

4. What XRP Did Right: Extensive PR With Credible Partnerships

• What I did right: Checked the News

Another factor that helped establish Ripple as a key player in the crypto space is its active involvement in Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) development. Ripple made headlines early on through partnerships that highlighted its focus on practical, real-world applications. By working with government institutions like the Republic of Palau and the National Bank of Georgia, Ripple showed not only the flexibility of its technology but also its ability to build trust with regulators and policymakers.

Of course, it’s not always easy to tell with the naked eye, whether a partnership is truly functional or simply for show. However, Ripple’s additional efforts, such as providing tools to local developers and making their team highly accessible through their website, helped ease my skepticism. Many projects announce partnerships to build credibility, but only highlight them on their social media channels. Ripple went a step further by securing coverage in multiple major news outlets, which added a layer of legitimacy and visibility to their initiatives.

For altcoin hunters like me, these partnerships signaled Ripple’s professionalism and legitimacy. While I knew that CBDC development wouldn’t directly affect token prices, I knew that these efforts would be seen as trustworthy to new investors. It showed that Ripple was more than just a speculative project; it was taking real steps to build credibility and drive meaningful innovation.

To blockchain projects aiming to increase visibility in this competitive space: the general audience won’t spend time scrolling through your X or Medium accounts to uncover your latest activities. If you’re serious about gaining credibility —secure coverage in reputable media outlets and ensure your achievements are easy to find and hard to ignore.

When it comes to investing in crypto, my strategy revolves around assessing how user-friendly a project is. Technology that prioritizes its end users often signals long-term potential, and Ripple’s $XRP is a perfect example of how this approach has worked for me.

But it wasn’t just this customer-centric perspective that led me to spot XRP’s potential. In 2024, as I traveled to various conferences, I noticed Ripple’s merch being worn by people—some of whom didn’t even realize they were repping XRP. Ripple’s commitment to expanding its visibility in every possible way was hard to miss, and it seems like those efforts are paying off.

At those conferences, when I shared that I was bullish on XRP, a highly respected professional told me, “Oh, lose it. We’ve all been there. We’ve all had expectations for Ripple, but they’re never met." Despite the doubt, I held on. I knew I had done my research and trusted the signals I had seen for myself.

In summary: DO YOUR RESEARCH. It will give you the confidence and logic to stand firm when doubt inevitably comes your way. And don’t just stay informed about the projects—stay connected with key figures in the industry who are actually working. They can offer unique insights and information.

Thanks for reading.

How do you assess an altcoin’s potential? Would love to know your strategies in the comments 👇