Lobbying Helped, But XRP’s Stockpile Listing Matches Its Global Use Case

• XRP’s U.S. crypto stockpile listing linked to Ballard’s lobbying ties and Ripple’s political reach
• Trump insiders say XRP’s global utility supported its inclusion despite political controversy
• XRP surges past $2.36 as SEC case winds down and stockpile listing fuels renewed market interest

The inclusion of XRP in the U.S. Crypto Strategic Reserve reportedly wasn’t President Donald Trump’s original plan, according to new allegations. Emerging “truth” from crypto and political circles points to renowned lobbyist Brian Ballard as the key figure who influenced the decision to add XRP.

This alleged lobbying backdrop casts a new light on President Trump’s crypto initiatives. After taking office, he first signed a January 2025 executive order, establishing the Presidential Working Group on Digital Asset Markets. The US President then announced on March 2 via Truth Social that XRP, Solana, Cardano, Ethereum, and Bitcoin would comprise the official US Crypto Strategic Reserve.

Now, months later, political insiders claim Ballard’s efforts, driven by his ties with Ripple, were what landed XRP on that high-profile list. Documents confirm the lobbyist received at least $60,000 from Ripple in 2024, though the reasons for the payment remain undisclosed as of this report.

Related: XRP Could Explode 10X From Here If This Triangle Pattern Holds

Controversy Intensifies Over Ballard’s Role, Trump’s Next Move

These revelations about Ballard’s alleged influence have ignited widespread controversy. Reports from certain quarters claim Trump has severed ties with Ballard after realizing the lobbyist misled him. 

Despite the uproar, analysts think it’s highly unlikely the president would remove XRP from the US Strategic Crypto Stockpile, considering his ties with Ripple’s CEO Brad Garlinghouse, who donated significantly to Trump’s campaign and inauguration funds.

XRP Price Climbs as Market Focuses on SEC Case Ending

Even as this stockpile controversy unfolds, XRP itself shows a bullish market outlook,  surging over 15% in the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency broke above a crucial $2.36 resistance on Friday morning, consolidating the bullish momentum. 

Related: Ripple CTO Makes The Case For XRP Inclusion in Crypto Stockpile

Analysts predict higher levels for XRP, considering the expected litigation withdrawal from the SEC, which would bring the longstanding regulatory complications surrounding the digital payment project to a conclusive end. At press time, XRP traded at $2.3737, based on TradingView data.