Key Takeaways
- •A Russian university paper reveals earlier experiments using Ripple’s technology as a reference model for cross-border payments.
- •The research does not indicate Russia plans to use XRP directly; instead, it suggests Ripple’s framework could inform a domestic system.
- •Sanctioned states, including Russia, continue exploring crypto-based payment channels as alternatives to Western-controlled infrastructure.
Background of the Research
The study explains that these trials were launched as far back as 2018, when the central bank’s Novosibirsk laboratory began reviewing potential blockchain models for international transfers. This was happening around the same period SWIFT was experimenting with its own blockchain-inspired prototypes, prompting Russia to explore competing approaches.
Ripple's Tech as a Reference Model
One of the more misunderstood points in the paper is its mention of Ripple. It does not claim Russia plans to run cross-border payments on XRP, nor does it suggest the central bank intends to adopt Ripple’s public infrastructure. Rather, the document observes that Ripple’s architecture offers an example of how a modern settlement network may be structured — something Russia could study while building its own sovereign system.
Using a U.S.-based company’s infrastructure would undermine Russia’s stated goal of insulating its financial rails from Western oversight. For that reason, analysts reading the paper say Ripple’s role here is conceptual, not operational.
XRP's Growing Reputation and Influence
Even if Russia never touches XRP directly, the report acknowledges the network’s strong presence in the global remittance landscape. Regions like Japan and Southeast Asia continue to use technology tied to the XRP Ledger for fast cross-border settlement, and many expect new U.S. financial institutions to explore similar integrations now that Ripple’s legal battles with American regulators have largely concluded.
These adoption trends help explain why Ripple’s name appears in discussions of payment modernization in countries evaluating blockchain-based solutions.
Sanctions Driving Russia Toward Alternative Financial Rails
The broader context is impossible to ignore: Russia’s interest in blockchain settlement systems aligns with its push to bypass Western-controlled financial infrastructures. Other heavily sanctioned governments, including Iran and North Korea, have also tested or used crypto-based settlement channels to facilitate trade without relying on traditional banks.
In that sense, the university’s research sits within a larger search for tools that reduce exposure to foreign pressure — not a commitment to any specific cryptocurrency.
A Broader Shift in Global Settlement Thinking
As governments and institutions worldwide reexamine how money moves across borders, Ripple’s ledger model, Bitcoin-based networks, stablecoin rails, and domestic blockchains are all emerging as potential building blocks for the next generation of payment architecture. Whether Russia bases a system on Ripple’s design or simply borrows a few ideas, the trend points toward a future where national payment networks draw inspiration from public crypto infrastructure.