 ▲ XRP and the U.S. Dollar (USD) |
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has urged XRP investors to exercise patience for another five years, prompting strong backlash from investors who say they have already endured eight years and now feel deeply betrayed.
According to crypto media outlet The Crypto Basic on March 11 (local time), Garlinghouse said in a recent interview that evaluating the true value of digital assets requires a long-term perspective of at least five years. He emphasized focusing on the fundamental growth of the industry rather than reacting to short-term price fluctuations.
However, an investor who has held XRP since 2017 immediately pushed back on social media, saying, “I’ve already waited eight years, and being told to wait another five is excessive.” The investor criticized Ripple for failing to consider the psychological distress and time lost by holders amid the prolonged legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and ongoing regulatory uncertainty. For long-term holders who have endured multiple market downturns, the proposed five-year horizon is being perceived as a form of false hope.
Criticism is spreading within the community that management is hiding behind the narrative of long-term investment instead of delivering a meaningful price revaluation. Some investors pointed out that while major assets such as Bitcoin (BTC) have reached new all-time highs, XRP’s price has remained stagnant for years, condemning what they see as an irresponsible attitude from leadership. They argue that emphasizing technological superiority without providing tangible returns to investors—while asking for several more years of patience—undermines market trust.
To be sure, some observers defend the five-year timeline as realistic for institutional adoption and regulatory stabilization. However, the majority of investors maintain that further patience is meaningless unless Ripple’s future vision translates into concrete results. Investor fatigue has intensified alongside delays in legislation such as the U.S. crypto market structure bill (CLARITY) mentioned by Garlinghouse.
As the digital asset market moves into a more institutionalized phase, Ripple’s management is facing mounting pressure to demonstrate tangible value rather than vague long-term projections. If the anger of investors who have waited eight years turns into selling pressure, market volatility could increase further. Investors are closely watching Ripple’s every move and demanding a decisive price revaluation that justifies their long wait.
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