04.02.2025
In 2025, XRP is seen as one of the most promising coins that can define the future blockchain landscape. But things have gone wrong for the coin time and time again. Ripple's epic legal battle with the SEC began in late 2020, when the commission accused XRP's creators of conducting unregistered securities during token sales. After paying $125 million in fines for sales process violations, Ripple is now set to rock the crypto world again. This is the result of a judge's ruling in July 2023 that XRP sales to retail customers through exchanges did not violate securities laws. While the SEC files the latest appeal, sympathy is now on Ripple's side.
Soon after, on 16 January 2025, the XRP coin price hit an all-time high (ATH), crossing the $3.3 mark. Asset market cap also updated the ATH, reaching $190 billion on the same day.
According to CoinMarketCap, XRP is the third most capitalised cryptocurrency, with its closest competitor being Ethereum at $400 billion. As such, XRP has proven to be worth the wait and is definitely worth investing in.
What is XRP?
XRP is Ripple's native digital asset. Ripple is one of the biggest names in the blockchain industry. It enables seamless and affordable cross-border transactions. To increase speed and reduce costs, Ripple created the XRP Ledger public blockchain, where transfers and payments are made using the native cryptocurrency XRP.
What Makes XRP Ledger unique?
XRP acts as a bridge between different fiat currencies. XRP transactions have become very popular due to their high speed and low cost (due to its Ripple Protocol Consensus Algorithm (RPCA) settlement speed of 3-5 seconds), making it perfect for large international transactions and, as a result, for big financial institutions and large corporations. XRP is also scalable and can handle over 3400 transactions per second. However, average users can also enjoy all the benefits of the system.
Where to buy XRP tokens
To buy XRP in the UK, you need to find reliable crypto exchanges and financial institutions. Before choosing a platform for your first purchase, explore all the services available and compare the key features:
- Security: Make sure the platform offers two-factor authentication (2FA) and funds insurance.
- Fees: Check the main trading and withdrawal fees, as these can change over time.
- Regulation: the platform must meet all the necessary UK regulations, which is a good sign of high security.
- Intuitive interface: if you're new to the platform or the industry as a whole, make sure an exchange's interface is easy to use, which is crucial for comfortable and secure transactions.
How to buy XRP in the UK
Today, purchasing XRP is getting easier every day as most crypto exchanges now support crypto and fiat transactions.
So if you have some cash in fiat or another crypto asset like Ethereum, you can use both to buy XRP.
The main ways to buy XRP now are:
- Bitcoin/Ethereum
- Credit/Debit Card
- Bank Transfer (UK Faster Payments, SEPA Transfers)
Best exchanges to buy XRP in the UK
eToro
eToro money wallet is one of the most popular platforms to buy or sell XRP (Ripple). It has a huge audience of 30 million and many GBP deposit methods, including bank transfer, debit card, Neteller, Skrill, eToro Money.
Its main advantages are a user-friendly interface and 5000+ instruments with a trusted broker.
eToro's commission on both buying and selling transactions is 1%. In addition, the fee model for all crypto transactions on eToro is based on the size of the user's position.
The minimum deposit is 50 USD for personal accounts and 500 USD for bank transfers. The minimum withdrawal is 30 USD.
How to buy XRP in the UK on eToro crypto exchange?
- Register on the eToro platform.
- Go through the Know Your Customer (KYC) verification to verify your identity.
- Deposit funds to fund your new exchange account.
- Select GBP as the fiat currency and go to fund the account.
- Use your new account to purchase XRP.
OKX
In addition to an intuitive interface, OKX has a number of advantages, including 400+ cryptocurrencies and over 670+ market pairs. It has comparatively low fees: 0.1% to 0.2%.
OKX also has a well-developed mobile app with the same features as the desktop version. If you allow access to DeFi protocols and NFT marketplaces, you'll get access to over 100 networks.
However, OKX has some drawbacks, such as restrictions in certain countries, including the USA. You can buy XRP with GBP-denominated credit and debit cards, but fiat transfers are limited.
The exchange has a complex internal system for users with regular and VIP levels (there are 8 VIP levels on the platform). The transaction fee also varies according to these levels. On a regular level, the maker fee is 0.08% and the taker fee is 0.1%. Maker fees on the 1-8 VIP levels range from 0.045% to 0.005%, while taker fees range from 0.05% to 0.015%.
The personal account limit is 10 million USD. For VIP users this figure ranges from 12 million USD to 40 million USD.
How to buy XRP in the UK on OKX?
- Register with OKX.
- Go through a simple verification process by submitting your personal details to the platform.
- Click on the "Buy Crypto" option on OKX.
- Select GBP as your preferred currency for your first transaction.
- Select XRP as the crypto asset you wish to receive.
- Follow the prompts to deposit funds to your XRP account.
CEX.io
CEX.io is another easy way to buy or sell XRP with GBP. CEX.io is a very convenient way to buy any token as it offers numerous templates to buy and exchange coins, including credit/debit card, wire transfer (SEPA), bank transfer and Skrill (for EUR and GBP).
As a centralized cryptocurrency exchange, CEX.io has a number of drawbacks, including high and hidden fees. CEX.io can charge up to 7% of the total amount of fiat you pay for a service. So if you buy XRP tokens for £5000, you'll be charged £4650. However, this is the only fee you will pay as it includes the service fee.
Note that if you fund your CEX.io account with a bank wire or SEPA transfer, there are no hidden fees. Funding accounts with credit cards includes a 2.99% fee.
Withdrawal fees vary by currency and payment method and can be up to 3% plus service charges up to $25. Credit cards are the most expensive way to withdraw funds.
ID verified accounts can purchase up to $1000 worth of Bitcoins per day. If you verify your address, the number of Bitcoins available is $10,000 and the withdrawal limit is $50,000 per day.
How to buy XRP in the UK on CEX.io via Credit/Debit card?
- Create a new account
- Choose your payment method - credit/debit card
- Select the BUY/SELL button from the menu
- Select XRP and GBP from the drop down menu
- Select the amount you need and press BUY
- Fill in your card details
How to buy XRP in the UK on CEX.io via Bank Transfer?
- Choose your payment method - Bank Transfer
- Click on the DEPOSIT button in the top right corner
- Choose GBP and select the amount
- Link your bank account following the instructions on the platform
- Fund your CEX.io account and use either the BUY/SELL page or the TRADE pages
Binance
Binance is one of the most popular and long-standing exchanges in the world. The platform offers crypto-to-crypto and fiat-to-crypto trading with a wide range of more than 350 cryptocurrencies and virtual tokens.
Binance has the largest set of trading tools on the market, including limit/market orders, stop-limit/stop-market orders, lending, smart pools and more.
Binance cryptocurrency exchange deposit fees vary depending on the type of currency you are using - fiat currency or crypto. As usual, the highest fees are charged for credit card transfers: if you choose this method (VISA/MasterCard), Binance fees range up to 2% per transaction. The minimum purchase also varies depending on the currency. For example, the minimum purchase for EUR is €10, with a weekly limit of €5,000.
Binance trading fees also vary by trading category - spot, margin, futures, options, NFT, P2P and fiat.
How to buy XRP on Binance UK?
- Navigate to buy XRP tokens with a USD page on Binance.
- Select XRP and USD from the cascading menu.
- Select card as your payment method and click 'Confirm'.
- Add your card details and click 'Confirm'.
- Proceed to the payment confirmation page, review the details and confirm the order.
- Click "Confirm" to complete your order.
- You will be taken to your bank's OTP transaction page. Verify the payment by following all instructions.
There are also a number of alternative ways to buy XRP tokens with GBP other than centralized/decentralized exchanges, including crypto wallets, P2P platforms, crypto ATMs, OTC desks, PayPal and other financial institutions.
Always double check all information about the service you choose to buy any crypto coin as it is a high risk investment.
Is XRP legal in the UK?
Trading XRP, along with other cryptocurrencies, is legal in the UK. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is the main body responsible for controlling financial activity in the country. They have developed a number of activities focused on anti-money laundering and consumer protection in the cryptocurrency space.
However, it is crucial to keep up to date with all the changes and regulations implemented in the legal sphere, as the sphere is new, volatile and dependent on economic and political events in the world. Always keep in mind buying crypto is a high risk investment.
Conclusion
XRP Ledger blockchain became the turning point for the whole industry. Ripple's CEO Brad Garlinghouse has just stated that he has discussed with President Trump the possibility of adding XRP to the US National Strategic Cryptocurrency Reserve. If Trump's reaction is positive, it could lead to another price rally.
In addition, the US government is planning to exempt US projects from crypto taxes, which will give XRP a significant advantage over other crypto tokens.
For now, Ripple is a top 3 coin and it's on the rise.
Activity in the XRP options and futures markets has increased significantly as the price of the underlying asset has risen rapidly. The CEO of Morgan Creek Capital named XRP, ADA and HBAR as potential assets for Trump's crypto reserve.
These are just some of the positive signs that XRP is here to stay. The most important thing is to make your XRP purchase safe and choose the best option according to your needs and budget. Always DYOR any project before jumping in and consult experts if needed.