XRP Ledger DEX Activity Hits 13-Month High as 2026 Begins

XRP Ledger activity climbed sharply this week as decentralized exchange transactions reached a 13-month high, signaling renewed on-chain demand at the start of 2026.

Data shared on January 29 showed the XRPL DEX recording a 14-day moving average of 1.014 million transactions, breaking through a ceiling that had capped network usage throughout 2025.

Market observer Xaif Crypto noted that the latest transaction figures represent a clear shift in XRPL activity. Throughout last year, DEX usage repeatedly stalled below the one-million mark, even during broader market rallies.

The recent breakout above that level indicates that users are returning to trade, settle, and move value on the ledger itself. Higher DEX volumes often reflect more than trading interest alone.

They signal that assets issued on the network are being actively used, liquidity pools are deepening, and applications built on XRPL are attracting repeat users. This type of activity tends to build gradually, making it harder to reverse quickly compared to short-lived speculative spikes.

XRP Ledger’s Long-Term Value Rooted in Network Utility, Not Price

On January 29, Anodos Finance co-founder and CEO Panos reinforced the idea that XRPL’s long-term value lies in the network rather than price movements.

He pointed back to the original vision of XRP Ledger as a global exchange where different forms of value can be held and traded seamlessly.

Referencing comments from XRPL co-creator Arthur Britto, Panos highlighted that the ledger itself is designed to operate as invisible infrastructure.

This means that XRPL is like the plumbing system of finance, allowing apps to run in the background without users being aware of the underlying mechanics. The emphasis is on having good assets, good apps, and good experiences that do not require users to know the underlying mechanics.

Blockchain’s Role in Upgrading Payment Infrastructure

The same was echoed by Marcus Treacher, the former Senior Vice President of Customer Success at Ripple, in his statement shared by ALLINCRYPTO on January 30.

According to him, the existing financial system is able to handle governance, compliance, and regulation very effectively, but lacks in terms of speed and efficiency.

Treacher said that distributed ledger technology is like an “upgraded layer” for making payments. Because of regulations such as PSD2, banks are being forced to open access and make payments faster.

Because of this, the technology being used has to be upgraded. Blockchain platforms assist banks and fintech companies in this regard, particularly for cross-border payments.

Also Read: Turning XRP Ledger into a Leading Chain: Strategy for 2026