Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, David Schwartz, recently stirred excitement within the XRP community by updating his profile picture on X. The new avatar showcases Schwartz in a black hat and sunglasses, uniquely adorned with the XRP logo. Accompanying him in the image is a phoenix—a symbol widely associated with the XRP Ledger-based meme coin, PHNIX—also sporting XRP-themed sunglasses.
This profile update quickly garnered a wide range of reactions from the XRP community, with many interpreting the presence of the phoenix as a significant omen. One notable response came from a validator on the XRP Ledger, who tweeted, “David changes his pfp to an honorary one he won by a meme coin project. XRP holders: A phoenix. This is a sign.” The mention of the phoenix is particularly poignant given the creature’s mythological background; the bird is said to live for 500 years, only to ignite itself into ashes and emerge reborn, symbolizing renewal and resurgence.
This imagery resonates well with the current market dynamics surrounding XRP, which is experiencing a renewed interest following a prolonged period of stagnation marked by the SEC’s lawsuit against Ripple. With that legal battle now behind them, XRP is beginning to regain traction in the cryptocurrency market.
Recent data highlights this resurgence. A tweet from Coinbase indicated that XRP has emerged as one of the most searched assets on their platform over a recent 24-hour period, joining the ranks of other popular cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin. According to CoinGecko, XRP has impressively climbed 469% in value over the past year, outperforming both Bitcoin and Ethereum, which posted yearly gains of 107% and 91%, respectively.
At the time of reporting, XRP was trading at $2.99, reflecting a 3% increase over the previous 24 hours, further extending its recovery from a recent low of $2.69. Currently, XRP holds its position as the third-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, valued at approximately $177.97 billion. The confluence of Schwartz’s updated profile and XRP’s market performance suggests that the community is not only attentive but also hopeful for the cryptocurrency’s future trajectory.
