Crypto analyst Austin Hilton says the current XRP sell-off is masking a story most retail investors are not tracking. In a recent video breakdown, he argued that institutional players are already building on the XRP Ledger while prices bleed, and the window to accumulate may not stay open long.
Institutions Want the Tech, Not the Token Pump
Hilton drew a line that rarely gets attention. Financial institutions are integrating Ripple’s infrastructure, but they are not buying XRP in bulk to push the spot price higher.
“Do I believe institutions are buying XRP? Sure. Do I believe they’re buying it in mass to move the price of the token? No, that’s not my point.”
The XRP Ledger activated XLS-81 this month, launching permissioned DEXs with built-in KYC and AML controls designed for banks and regulated firms. Ripple also expanded escrow tools to cover stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets. Combined, these give institutions a compliance-ready on-chain toolkit.
“Ripple is not trying to win open DeFi. It’s building a fast lane for institutional capital.”
The signals extend beyond the ledger. Aviva Investors partnered with Ripple to tokenize funds on XRPL, cumulative XRP ETF inflows have crossed $1.23 billion, and Bank of America recently disclosed XRP ETF holdings in an SEC filing.
Tariffs, Iran, and the Macro Drag on Crypto
Hilton connected the sell-off to forces well outside crypto. The Supreme Court struck down the Trump administration’s tariff framework, and the White House immediately pivoted to impose more. The EU is publicly refusing to accept the hikes, and Iran-US tensions continue escalating.
These pressures are suppressing price action across the board, regardless of what is being built underneath.
Also Read: Why Is XRP Price Outperforming Bitcoin After the 2026 Crypto Crash?
XRP Below $1? Hilton Sees a Buying Window
With Bitcoin at risk of dropping to $55K or below $50K, Hilton expects XRP to follow and potentially fall under $1.
“I never thought I’d be able to buy XRP below a dollar again, simply put.”
He frames that scenario as accumulation, not panic. The infrastructure is live, institutional names are moving, and the CLARITY Act carries 80% odds of passing by April, according to Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse. Polymarket bettors price it at 85%.
If the regulatory green light and macro relief arrive together, the gap between XRP’s infrastructure reality and its price could close fast.
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