XRP is the native digital asset of the XRP Ledger (XRPL), an open-source, decentralized technology that was launched in 2012. The XRPL is permissionless and offers several benefits including low-cost transactions, quick settlement times, scalability, and eco-friendly attributes. XRP, the digital currency, was introduced as an alternative to other digital currencies with a focus on speed and energy efficiency. The XRP Ledger also features the first decentralized exchange (DEX) and custom tokenization capabilities built into the protocol, making it a versatile tool in the digital currency space.

XRP operates on the XRP Ledger, which uses a unique Federated Consensus mechanism to validate transactions. Transactions are confirmed through a consensus protocol, where independent servers, known as validators, agree on the order and outcome of XRP transactions. All servers in the network process each transaction according to the same rules, and any transaction that follows the protocol is confirmed immediately. The XRP Ledger is transparent and public, and anyone can operate a validator. This Federated Consensus mechanism aims to process all verified transactions without a single point of failure, as no single participant makes a decision independently.

XRP presents a wide variety of applications and use cases related to payments, including micropayments, DeFi, and soon, NFTs. The XRP Ledger supports enterprises and developers with powerful utility and flexibility. Developers can create solutions that solve inefficiencies, including remittance and asset tokenization, using the XRP Ledger. Currently, the five main applications of the XRP Ledger are payments, tokenization, DeFi, CBDCs, and stablecoins. The XRP Ledger provides a platform for developers to build applications with the potential to enhance the efficiency and speed of digital transactions.

XRP and the XRP Ledger were launched in 2012 by David Schwartz, Jed McCaleb, and Arthur Britto as an alternative to the Bitcoin blockchain with a focus on speed and energy efficiency. In September of the same year, they, along with Chris Larsen, founded the company that is today known as Ripple. The XRP Ledger architects gifted a large amount of XRP to Ripple so that the company could build use cases around the digital asset. Since its inception, the XRP Ledger has been operating reliably. However, since late 2020, Ripple Labs, the creators of the XRP token, has been in a legal battle with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission over whether or not XRP is a security.