Panos Mekras, co-founder and CEO of Anodos, said he is strongly bullish on XRP and the XRP Ledger, citing more than a decade of continuous involvement in the XRPL ecosystem. Mekras framed his optimism around the ledger’s unrealized utility and DeFi potential, arguing that unlocking long-dormant liquidity depends on concrete protocol and ecosystem changes. He has highlighted several specific weaknesses that, in his view, have constrained XRPL’s on-ledger activity and broader utility.
Why XRP Could Be on the Verge of a Breakout
Long-term builders in the XRPL community see unused ledger capabilities and DeFi design as a source of latent demand that could become active if on-ledger utility improves. Mekras points to his decade-plus of direct experience across market cycles as the basis for his bullish stance, and he emphasizes that real usage—not speculation—will determine long-term relevance. For readers tracking wider DeFi developments, related coverage of networks exploring tokenized liquidity can provide helpful context, for example Flare Network DeFi.
Key Weaknesses Holding Back XRPL
Mekras identified several structural issues that have limited XRPL’s growth and capital efficiency. He argued that these weaknesses reduce on-ledger activity and keep substantial amounts of XRP idle rather than in productive use.
- Low decentralized exchange (DEX) volumes and limited automated market maker (AMM) liquidity, which reduce trading depth and capital efficiency.
- Fragmented developer tooling and weak incentives, making it harder for builders to ship consumer-grade applications quickly.
- An overemphasis in messaging on Ripple’s institutional payments strategy, which Mekras says narrowed perceptions of XRPL’s native DEX, tokenization features, and protocol-level DeFi design.
Proposed Changes to Unlock XRP’s Potential
To address those gaps, Mekras has outlined a set of protocol and ecosystem priorities he believes are necessary to activate ledger activity and increase XRP utility. These proposals focus on both technical adjustments and stronger, faster support for builders and liquidity providers; for discussion of institutional narratives and token demand see Ripple and institutional acceleration.
- Introduce sponsored fees and batch transactions to lower friction and improve user experience on the ledger.
- Deploy stronger liquidity incentives and accelerate ecosystem funding so markets and applications gain depth more quickly.
- Improve onboarding and onramps so consumer-grade applications can hide blockchain complexity from end users.
XRP: Not Just for Institutions
Mekras explicitly rejected the narrative that XRP was built only for banks or institutions, writing that people who believe XRP is not meant for retail should reassess that view. He frames XRPL as open infrastructure whose long-term value depends on broader consumer use, not solely institutional activity.
Why this matters
For anyone tracking XRP’s market relevance, Mekras’s points focus attention on liquidity and usable on-ledger services rather than purely on price speculation. If the structural and messaging issues he names are addressed, the result would be more active ledger usage and clearer utility for XRP holders and users. Even if you run a small operation, these developments change the context in which demand for XRP is created and traded.
What to do?
Miners and small operators who follow XRP and XRPL can use a few practical steps to stay prepared as the ecosystem evolves. Focus on information and optional, low-cost actions rather than large operational changes, since the proposals target ledger activity and liquidity rather than mining hardware or validation mechanics.
- Monitor XRPL developer updates and ecosystem funding announcements to spot changes that affect on-ledger activity.
- Follow key voices and projects in the XRPL community—like Anodos and its leadership—to track proposed protocol adjustments and incentives.
- Check DEX liquidity and onramps periodically so you understand how easily XRP can be traded in different conditions.
- Consider small, staged exposure or experimentation with XRPL applications if you want direct participation, keeping actions proportional to your risk tolerance.
