XRP ecosystem builder Hugo Philion lately revealed one of many harshest moments throughout Flare’s early growth.
He mentioned a enterprise capital fund advisor dismissed each XRP and the thought of DeFi on the community.
Philion disclosed that in a name with a VC fund, the place crypto influencer Ran Neuner served as an advisor, he endured prolonged criticism about XRP’s future prospects.
In response to Philion, the advisor argued for “15–20 minutes” that XRP “was price nothing,” that constructing DeFi infrastructure for XRP was “a pointless pursuit,” and that Flare “would by no means work.”
Nonetheless, Philion mentioned the criticism had the alternative impact. It strengthened his willpower to push ahead with XRP-focused DeFi growth.
Key Factors
- A VC advisor mentioned XRP was “price nothing” and DeFi on it will fail, however Philion doubled down on constructing anyway.
- Neuner and Scott Melker mocked XRP; group reacted, saying critics nonetheless miss what the XRP ecosystem is constructing.
- Flare’s FXRP and Firelight broaden XRP DeFi, enabling staking, lending, borrowing, and yield technology use circumstances.
- Over 100M XRP minted as FXRP, TVL tops 156M; an 8M FXRP institutional stake indicators rising adoption momentum.
Feedback Got here After XRP Mockery
Philion’s remarks surfaced after Neuner and crypto dealer Scott Melker jokingly mocked XRP on social media. Neuner sarcastically advised that traders ought to maintain XRP just because it had turn out to be an “institutionalized coin.”
Melker additionally laughed off XRP, stating that he would slightly personal Ripple inventory than XRP itself. On the similar time, he clarified that he held no damaging emotions towards XRP holders.
The alternate drew reactions from the XRP group. XRP commentator Mickle in contrast the dialogue to “watching my dad and mom discuss AI”. The remark advised that critics nonetheless fail to grasp the event within the XRP ecosystem.
Philion then joined the dialog, prompting Mickle to reply that folks “not understanding what we’re constructing” was really bullish for the ecosystem.
Wow. I want I had been extra stunned TBH.
Dumb individuals not understanding what we’re constructing, is bulish IMO although.
— mickle (@xrpmickle) Could 24, 2026
Flare Brings DeFi to XRP
In the meantime, Flare has achieved some success in bringing DeFi to XRP. It launched FXRP, a non-custodial, overcollateralized model of XRP designed for sensible contracts. This permits holders to entry DeFi providers equivalent to staking, lending, borrowing, and yield technology.
In the meantime, Firelight, constructed with Sentora, allows liquid staking by means of the stXRP token.
Flare’s XRPFi ecosystem has grown quickly since FXRP launched on mainnet in September 2025. Preliminary minting caps stuffed inside hours, whereas Firelight’s early staking allocations had been additionally rapidly exhausted.
By February 2026, about 100 million XRP had already been transformed into FXRP, with most of it deployed throughout Flare-based DeFi purposes.
Flare Constructed Basis for XRP Finance
In April 2026, Flare developer relations engineer Kristaps Grinbergs mentioned the community had already constructed the “basis for XRP finance” after a significant institutional staking occasion on Firelight. A single establishment staked 8 million FXRP by means of the protocol, marking one of many platform’s largest inflows this yr.
On-chain information confirmed Firelight recorded greater than 9 million FXRP in inflows in the course of the interval, pushing whole internet inflows above 58 million FXRP.
Flare’s ecosystem additionally surpassed 156 million XRP in whole worth locked, with Firelight accounting for greater than 32% of that determine.
DisClamier: This content material is informational and shouldn’t be thought-about monetary recommendation. The views expressed on this article might embrace the writer’s private opinions and don’t replicate The Crypto Primary opinion. Readers are inspired to do thorough analysis earlier than making any funding choices. The Crypto Primary shouldn’t be chargeable for any monetary losses.

