Ripple (XRP)

XRP is a digital asset that's targeting the real-time payments market at a global level. What excels XRP in this market space is the speed, scalability, decentralized, and is eco-friendly. Payments settle across the XRP Ledger in 3-5 seconds while consistently handling 1,500 transactions per second, 24x7. The network is run by a decentralized network of 150+ validators globally and settles transactions instantly without the energy costs associated with proof of work (or mining).

There is also a lot of controversy surrounding XRP. At the end of 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commision (SEC) filed an action against Ripple Labs Inc and two of its execs, alleging they have raised over $1.3 billion through unregistered, ongoing digital asset securities offerings. These ongoing legal challenges puts downward pressure on not just XRP but on the whole cryptocurrency industry. As the crypto industry has been around for nearly a decade, regulations and laws will be a common topic as the crypto industry becomes mainstream which is why investors are watching this case closely and what it could mean for the rest of the industry.