Ripple Clash: Scott Melker Questions XRP’s True Purpose

A casual question from crypto commentator Scott Melker, known as “The Wolf of All Streets,” has ignited a heated discussion within the XRP community about the token’s true role and relevance in today’s financial landscape.

Melker took to X to ask what practical use case XRP currently serves, especially as major payment networks like SWIFT and Western Union continue exploring other blockchain solutions. He emphasized that his question was genuine and not an attempt to provoke, but the post quickly drew hundreds of responses and revealed a deep divide between XRP’s technical potential and its actual real-world use.

The Debate Over XRP’s Relevance

In his post, Melker pointed out that stablecoins have become the dominant medium for digital payments, questioning whether XRP still has a distinct purpose. “Stablecoins have clearly taken the reins for payments,” he said, asking followers to explain XRP’s utility beyond theory.

The XRP community reacted strongly—some defensively accusing Melker of misunderstanding the ecosystem, while others offered detailed insights. Supporters like the analyst known as Mickle argued that XRP remains essential as the native asset of the XRP Ledger (XRPL), describing it as a “neutral bridge currency” capable of linking different financial systems, including central bank digital currencies and traditional banking networks.

Others noted that while stablecoins represent stored value, XRP represents “mobility”—a decentralized intermediary not tied to any issuer. Despite these arguments, Melker continued pressing for examples of real-world adoption, asking whether the technology was actively being used or simply theoretical.

Technical Insights and Honest Reflections

Amid the noise, a measured response from Onami Press co-founder Santiago Velez stood out. Velez explained that XRP’s primary function is to facilitate value transfers and prevent spam within the XRPL system. He highlighted the “rippling” mechanism—an automated process for exchanging assets where XRP acts as an independent bridge between currencies without counterparty risk.

Velez clarified that unlike stablecoins, XRP’s market value fluctuates, but it avoids the dependency risk of being issued by a centralized entity like Circle or Tether. This neutrality, he said, makes it uniquely suited for transactions between parties that cannot fully trust each other.

Melker acknowledged the technical soundness of this explanation, calling the XRPL design “elegant,” but he remained skeptical about its long-term economic value. “The bridge clearly works – I’m just not sure the toll booth ever collects,” he remarked, questioning whether the network’s success truly translates into demand for XRP tokens.

Even some community members admitted that their motivation for holding XRP is largely speculative. “I mean, this is fair,” Mickle said, “but at the end of the day, I’m here to make money.”

Despite the debate, bullish sentiment persists among many XRP investors. Some analysts predict that XRP could still surpass $5 in the current market cycle, citing historical price patterns. For much of the community, that optimism about future gains remains as strong as faith in the token’s underlying technology.