XRP Breaks Through to Institutions as Aviva Investors Joins Ripple for Tokenized Funds on the Ledger

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In recent months, crypto enthusiasts have been waiting for a major asset manager to formally integrate with the XRP ecosystem. That milestone appears to be approaching as Ripple inked a deal with Aviva Investors, a global asset manager, to model traditional fund structures on the XRP Ledger. This move could recalibrate XRP?s perception in 2026 and serve as a doorway to mainstream finance.

The partnership with Aviva Investors, announced on Wednesday, marks a turning point in Ripple?s strategy. The plan calls for the development and launch of tokenized funds on the XRP Ledger over 2026. This represents Aviva Investors? first foray into tokenization, and a first-of-its-kind collaboration for a European investment manager with Ripple.

The rationale behind the alliance is to exploit blockchain advantages?faster settlement, lower costs?for issuing and managing classic financial products. The XRP Ledger?s energy efficiency, operating without energy-intensive mining, is another key consideration for institutions that increasingly prioritize sustainability criteria.

This trajectory aligns with Ripple President Monica Long?s forecast that 2026 will be decisive for ?institutional acceptance at scale.? The initiative also expands Ripple?s footprint beyond Europe: the company recently broadened its collaboration with Zand Bank in the United Arab Emirates to build out stablecoin infrastructure.

Data backing the optimism

The optimism isn?t only based on rhetoric. Network data from CryptoQuant shows growing on-chain activity on the XRP Ledger. In early February, the number of active addresses nearly doubled?from around 17,000 to over 32,700?indicating renewed usage of the protocol.

In the market, XRP-related exchange-traded products (ETPs) have seen five consecutive days of net inflows, even as much of the broader crypto sector faced headwinds. Observers also noted multiple transfers of more than 100 million XRP between large wallets, a sign that sizable investors were positioning themselves ahead of the just-announced strategic move.

The price reaction reflected the sense of optimism: XRP rose about 11% on a weekly basis and trades around $1.36, though the distance to the 52-week high remains substantial.

Takeaway

The Aviva Investors partnership goes beyond lip service; it is a tangible step toward merging traditional asset management with crypto technology. The real test will be the smooth deployment of tokenized funds within 2026. If the implementation proceeds as planned, the XRP Ledger could secure a more entrenched role as infrastructure for institutional financial products.