Ripple Mints 12M RLUSD as Stablecoin Market Hits $252B and Shifts Toward Profitability

Ripple

Key Takeaways:

  • Ripple has minted 12 million RLUSD as the stablecoin market surpasses $252B in supply.
  • Tether and Circle dominate revenues, but DeFi protocols and newcomers like RLUSD are catching up.
  • With regulatory clarity from the Genius Act, stablecoins are poised for mainstream financial integration.

Ripple has officially minted 12 million RLUSD tokens at the RLUSD Treasury, marking a major step into the booming stablecoin ecosystem. The transaction, recorded on Ethereum’s blockchain and flagged by Ripple’s Stablecoin Tracker, highlights the company’s growing presence in a sector that’s seen explosive growth.

This move comes at a time when total stablecoin supply has surpassed $252 billion, a milestone that signals major capital inflows and growing investor confidence.

Stablecoin Market Grows 20-Fold in Five Years

According to DeFiLlama, the total supply of stablecoins has grown more than 20x in the last five years. The past week alone saw over $740 million in net inflows, indicating strong momentum and demand for dollar-pegged assets in crypto.

Tether’s USDT remains dominant, commanding 62.5% of the market. Circle’s USDC follows, maintaining a solid second position. While RLUSD’s 12 million token minting is modest by comparison, it reflects Ripple’s ambition to stake a claim in a profitable and maturing market.

Stablecoins Emerge as Profit Engines

Stablecoins are no longer just digital dollars for trading pairs—they’ve become high-yield financial instruments. Tether leads the revenue race, earning $593 million in the last 30 days largely from interest on U.S. Treasuries. Circle earned $191 million from similar strategies with its USDC reserves.

Ripple’s entry with RLUSD opens the door to similar revenue channels. If Ripple mirrors Tether’s Treasury-backed strategy, it could unlock significant earnings potential while supporting ecosystem growth.

DeFi Protocols Capitalize on Stablecoin Liquidity

Decentralized platforms are also profiting from stablecoin flows. Protocols like Hyperliquid and PancakeSwap earned $64 million and $57 million respectively from swap fees. Over 55 DeFi protocols generated $1 million or more in just one month.

Ripple’s RLUSD may soon integrate with such platforms, further embedding itself in DeFi’s growing financial infrastructure. This shift demonstrates that the stablecoin market is moving from mere utility to profit-oriented structures.

The recent Genius Act has provided long-awaited regulatory clarity, boosting stablecoin innovation and adoption. This regulatory framework is expected to reduce risk while encouraging institutional and enterprise-level engagement.

Also Read: Kraken Launches Krak App to Rival Ripple with Zero-Fee Global Crypto Payments

Ripple’s compliance-first approach may position RLUSD as a preferred choice among institutions seeking regulatory-aligned stablecoins.

Ripple’s 12 million RLUSD mint signals its commitment to entering the stablecoin market, which is fast becoming one of crypto’s most lucrative sectors. As stablecoin utility evolves into profitability and infrastructure integration deepens, Ripple stands to benefit from this trend—provided it can scale and capture similar yields as its competitors.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The author’s views are personal and may not reflect the views of Chain Affairs. Before making any investment decisions, you should always conduct your own research. Chain Affairs is not responsible for any financial losses