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XRP jumps 2.6% to $1.08 as OSL becomes the first SFC‑licensed exchange to offer retail spot trading in Hong Kong, adding USD and HKD pairs.
XRP rose 2.6% to about $1.08 after OSL launched retail‑only spot trading on July 29, 2026, giving everyday Hong Kong investors direct access to the token in both USD and HKD pairs【1】. The move expands regulated on‑ramps in a major Asian financial hub and could broaden the retail buyer base beyond the professional‑investor segment that has held XRP since 2025.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Price | $1.08 |
| 24h change | +2.6% |
| Catalyst | OSL retail launch (USD & HKD pairs) |
| Market context | XRP down ~41% YTD, crypto market up ~1% |
OSL, a subsidiary of the publicly listed OSL Group (HKEX: 863), announced the opening of three XRP pairs for retail investors at 20:00 Hong Kong time, including a Flash Trade XRP/USD pair and OTC XRP/USD and XRP/HKD pairs【1】. The HKD pair is especially significant because it lets local residents purchase XRP with the currency they already hold, avoiding conversion to USD or reliance on offshore, unlicensed platforms【1】. Deposits and withdrawals settle on the XRP Ledger, allowing users to move coins to personal wallets rather than leaving them on‑exchange【1】.
Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission requires a token to qualify as an “eligible large‑cap virtual asset” before a licensed exchange can offer it to retail clients, a test that kept OSL’s earlier listing professional‑only until the recent clearance【1】. The requirement includes appearance in at least two independent indices and a twelve‑month track record, criteria Ripple’s XRP satisfies【1】. While the listing adds a regulated route for retail buying, it does not reverse the roughly 41% price decline XRP has suffered over the past year【1】. Nonetheless, the launch coincides with strong institutional interest: XRP spot ETFs have accumulated $1.49 billion in inflows and tokenized real‑world assets on the XRPL have topped $4 billion【2】.
HashKey Exchange, Hong Kong’s largest licensed platform, listed XRP for professional investors in May 2025 but has not yet cleared the retail eligibility test, meaning OSL currently holds the sole retail gateway【1】. If HashKey follows suit, the retail‑accessible market could expand further, potentially increasing demand for XRP among everyday investors in the region【1】.
The OSL retail launch marks the first regulated on‑ramp for XRP in Hong Kong, widening the pool of potential buyers and signaling that Asian regulators are building infrastructure for the token even as U.S. policy discussions lag. Future retail listings by other licensed exchanges will determine whether this access translates into sustained price momentum.
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AI-assisted synthesis by the TrendWatcher Editorial Desk · sourced from 3 outlets · Jul 30, 2026 · How we report
No; burning escrowed XRP would require an amendment approved by roughly 80% of the 35 trusted validators, which Ripple alone cannot provide.
Ripple holds about 32 billion XRP, roughly 32% of the total 100 billion XRP supply.
Yes; OSL’s SFC‑licensed platform now offers retail spot pairs for XRP/USD and XRP/HKD, providing a regulated on‑ramp for everyday investors.
According to David Schwartz, Stellar’s 53% token burn did not produce a noticeable impact on XLM price charts.
XRP remains in the top‑10 by market capitalization and is used by banks for cross‑border payments, though its price has not closely tracked network growth.