XRP is the native digital asset on the XRP Ledger (XRPL) blockchain, originally designed to support payments. XRP primarily facilitates transactions on the network and connects currencies within the native decentralized exchange platform on the XRP Ledger. XRP is the native digital asset of the XRP Ledger series—an open, public, decentralized blockchain technology with open-source code. It was created in 2012 specifically to process payments, where XRP can settle transactions on the ledger within 3–5 seconds, using a network of trusted validators to verify transactions on the ledger. XRP can be sent directly without the need for a central intermediary, making it a convenient tool for quickly and efficiently connecting two currencies. It is traded freely on the open market and is used in the real world to enable cross-border transactions and micro-transactions. XRP can also be used to exchange different currencies and access liquidity for digital currencies.