Ripple (Ripple) is a payment protocol and a distributed network created for the fast and inexpensive transfer of value between participants. Unlike classic cryptocurrencies focused exclusively on their own digital coin, Ripple was designed from the outset as infrastructure for settlements in any assets — both cryptocurrencies and traditional (fiat) money.

How the network is structured

The network consists of nodes and gateways through which payments pass. Some operations may rely on debt obligations (IOU — "I owe you") and trust relationships between participants: gateways act as entry and exit points for different currencies. The network's native asset — XRP — is used as an intermediate link and as a means of covering fees and protecting against spam.

Key features of Ripple's approach:

• high speed of transaction confirmation;
• low costs for transfers;
• a focus on financial institutions and cross-border settlements.

Thanks to these properties, Ripple is often viewed not as a replacement for money, but as a technology for modernizing international payments. It is important to distinguish the network itself (Ripple) from the asset circulating within it (XRP).