Canary Capital CEO: XRP gaining institutional credibility via RWA tokenization

Canary Capital CEO Steven McClurg told the AInvest podcast that institutional perception of XRP has shifted from casual observation to serious consideration. The firm’s change in view is driven by measurable real-world usage on the XRP Ledger—particularly stablecoin flows and tokenization of real-world assets (RWA)—rather than price speculation. McClurg argues XRP’s alignment with traditional financial infrastructure gives it a clearer institutional narrative compared with networks focused on decentralized or experimental use cases. He contrasted XRP’s finance-oriented role with Hedera’s enterprise data/software focus and suggested that regulatory clarity will allow assets to decouple and be valued by real utility. McClurg projected that rising XRP Ledger adoption could support a price near $5 in 2026, tying the outlook to adoption metrics. Key points: Steven McClurg (Canary Capital), XRP Ledger real-world use (stablecoins, RWA), institutional reappraisal, comparison with Hedera, regulatory clarity as a catalyst, $5 price projection for XRP in 2026. Primary keywords: XRP, XRP Ledger, tokenization, real-world assets, institutional investors. Secondary/semantic keywords: RWA, stablecoin flows, regulatory clarity, Hedera, adoption-driven valuation.
Bullish
The news is bullish for XRP because it signals a shift in institutional perception from passive monitoring to active evaluation based on real-world usage—stablecoin flows and RWA tokenization on the XRP Ledger. Institutional interest driven by utility historically supports more durable demand than speculative hype. McClurg’s emphasis on regulatory clarity and adoption-driven valuation suggests that price moves would reflect fundamental network usage, which tends to reduce short-term volatility over time and attract larger, longer-term capital. The $5 2026 projection, while speculative, anchors a narrative of material upside if adoption accelerates. Short-term implications: positive sentiment and increased buyer interest in XRP, potential volatility around commentary and adoption announcements, and reallocation from assets judged less aligned with traditional finance. Long-term implications: if adoption and regulatory clarity materialize, XRP could see steadier inflows from institutional products (ETFs, custody, tokenized securities), improving liquidity and price discovery. Risks remain—regulatory outcomes, competition from other tokenization platforms (e.g., Solana, Hedera), and execution of real-world projects—so traders should size positions and watch on-chain adoption metrics, stablecoin flows, regulatory updates, and institutional custody developments for confirmation.