- A resurfaced Musk video sparked speculation about XRP and X payments.
- Musk has never endorsed XRP and has kept comments deliberately vague.
- No official confirmation links XRP or RLUSD to X Money at this time.
The crypto community has been buzzing after a video shared by JackTheRippler on January 17, 2026, resurfaced comments from Elon Musk about turning X into a global financial powerhouse. In the clip, Musk describes his vision of X becoming one of the largest financial systems in the world, operating like a lightning-fast money database with minimal fraud. That was enough to ignite speculation around XRP, X payments, and whether Ripple’s technology could play a role. Still, despite the excitement, there is currently no verified evidence that XRP or Ripple’s stablecoin RLUSD is being integrated into X in any capacity.
What Elon Musk Actually Said About XRP
Musk has only referenced XRP publicly once, during a town hall event in Pittsburgh back in October 2024. When asked directly about XRP and the XRP Ledger’s role in financial institutions, his response was notably cautious. He described cryptocurrency broadly as a potential safeguard against centralized control but explicitly clarified that his comment was not an endorsement, nor a rejection, of XRP specifically. The wording was deliberate and vague, signaling philosophical support for crypto rather than any concrete plan involving Ripple’s ecosystem.
Why XRP Keeps Getting Pulled Into the X Narrative
The speculation isn’t random. Musk has repeatedly described X as an “everything app” that will combine communication, commerce, and payments under one roof. XRP already operates as a real-time, low-fee settlement asset used by banks and institutions for cross-border transactions. Ripple’s launch of its dollar-backed business stablecoin RLUSD in late 2024 only added fuel to the theory, as both XRP and RLUSD align with Musk’s stated goals around speed and efficiency.
There’s also a technical thread people point to. Cross River Bank, which handles banking infrastructure for X Money, has worked with Ripple technology for international transfers since 2014. That existing relationship makes XRP feel like a logical fit to some observers, but logic and confirmation are not the same thing. Most of the viral Elon Musk and XRP chatter is based on connecting dots, not announced partnerships.
The Reality Check Investors Need
At this point, there is no confirmation from Ripple, X leadership, or Musk himself that XRP or RLUSD will be used within X’s payments system. X CEO Linda Yaccarino has stated that X Money will initially launch with Visa and peer-to-peer transfers, with no mention of crypto integration. No filings, partnerships, or official statements tie XRP to X payments today.
The hype surrounding XRP, Elon Musk, and X is driven by what seems plausible rather than what has actually been announced. Until someone in charge explicitly confirms XRP or RLUSD involvement, everything remains speculation. For now, the story is about imagination, not implementation.
