Ripple’s USD-pegged stablecoin, RLUSD, has hit a market cap of $170 million, eyeing the top five spot among stablecoins in the crypto industry.

According to the company’s latest report, the stablecoin outpaced the company’s internal projections when it hit the new market cap record. The token has enjoyed increased institutional interest in the market, providing it with the ingredients it needs for growth.

RLUSD witnesses massive growth in February

The positive news was shared in a post on X by the Senior Vice President at Ripple, Jack McDonald. He highlighted several aspects of the February attestation, noting that the stablecoin has continued to show strong movements. In the post, he mentioned that RLUSD is now being used in DeFi liquidity pools amid other use cases. McDonald also mentioned that NGOs have now started adopting the token as a means of donation.

The Feb monthly independent attestation for $RLUSD is live 👇
— Market cap (~$170M) is outpacing our internal projections – we expect to be a top 5 stablecoin by EOY 🔥
— RLUSD is available on new exchanges including @LMAX with more to come…
— New use cases are continuing to…

— Jack McDonald (@_JackMcDonald_) March 28, 2025

The token’s increase in market cap has shown that its demand and utility have grown steadily. Launched in December 2024, the stablecoin made its debut on several exchanges, including Uphold, CoinMENA, Archax, and MoonPay. Since then, it has secured listings on exchanges like Bitso, Bullish, Mercado Bitcoin, Independent Reserve, Zero Hash, and Bitstamp. The token was also recently listed on LMAX.

The token has recorded relatively solid numbers since its launch, with RLUSD reaching $120 million in just two months.

There have also been talks about moving the stablecoin to different blockchains, with Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson mentioning plans to add RLUSD into the blockchain. It remains to be seen what exchanges and blockchains the stablecoin will appear on in the future.

Ripple CEO makes top five prediction

Beyond the growth of the stablecoin, RLUSD is making a play for the top five spot in the stablecoin market. According to the February attestation, there has been a spike in mining activity, with about 17 million tokens minted every day at the RLUSD Treasury.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has also given his opinion on the stablecoin, predicting a top-five move by the end of the year.

Garlinghouse’s projection comes amid the broader bullish sentiment in the stablecoin market. In a recent Bloomberg interview, the Ripple CEO discussed the future of stablecoins, particularly about its regulation following the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) decision to withdraw its lawsuit against the company. He mentioned that RLUSD has what it takes to be among the top tokens in the stablecoin sector.

Industry analysts have also noted that the rise of RLUSD could challenge the leaders in the stablecoin market, particularly if its adoption in the decentralized finance (DeFi) industry and its use for cross-border activities continues at its current pace. Also, the relationship between Ripple and financial institutions and payment services could give RLUSD the advantage of being used in traditional finance.

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In the wake of a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand on Friday, over 1,700 fatalities have been confirmed and thousands injured across the two nations. The epicenter, located near Mandalay in central Myanmar, caused widespread destruction, including collapsed buildings, damaged infrastructure, and flooding.

In Thailand, Bangkok experienced significant tremors, leading to the collapse of an under-construction high-rise that trapped dozens beneath the rubble. Rescue operations are ongoing as international aid pours into the region to address the humanitarian crisis. Myanmar’s military government has declared a state of emergency and called for global assistance to support relief efforts.

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao leads crypto donations

Among notable contributions to disaster relief, Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) pledged 1,000 BNB tokens—valued at approximately $630,000—split evenly between Myanmar and Thailand. He posted on X on Friday:

“I will donate 500 BNB each to Myanmar and Thailand.”

The post moved many more industry participants to action, including Anndy Liann, thought leader, intergovernmental blockchain advisor, and best-selling author, who stated:

“I will donate 44 $BNB to NPO to help #Myanmar. Earthquake death toll rises to 1,644 amid race to find survivors.”

He also urged his followers to also follow CZ and donate to play their part as well.

The funds are being distributed through Binance Thailand and local partners to ensure efficient allocation for rebuilding infrastructure and providing essential services.

Zhao’s donation highlights the growing role of cryptocurrency in humanitarian efforts, offering rapid and transparent financial aid during crises. This follows a broader trend of crypto donations being used effectively in past disasters, such as the Turkey-Syria earthquake and Maui wildfires.

CryptoSlate recently reported that cryptocurrencies are rapidly transforming global aid, helping charities like Save the Children to reach more people quickly on the ground in disaster zones when help is needed.

As rescue teams continue their work amid challenging conditions, international collaboration remains critical to addressing urgent needs and supporting affected communities.

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