Here’s another rewritten version with a more concise, editorial crypto-news tone:

The XRP community reacted swiftly and negatively to the Ripple Swell 2026 announcement, with retail holders flooding the @RippleSwell thread shortly after details were released. Much of the backlash focused less on the event’s scale—1,500 expected attendees and the integration of XRPL Apex—and more on the perception that Ripple is prioritizing RLUSD while XRP continues to lag in price performance.

Many holders argued that Ripple’s USD-backed stablecoin is receiving disproportionate attention compared to XRP, which they believe should remain central to the ecosystem. Criticism also extended to Ripple leadership, including CEO Brad Garlinghouse, with sentiment ranging from frustration to outright hostility.

At the core of the reaction is a growing belief that Ripple is building its institutional strategy around RLUSD, while XRP holders see limited direct upside from the company’s broader progress.

Swell 2026 scope

Swell 2026 is scheduled for October 27–29 at The Shed in Hudson Yards, New York City. For the first time, Ripple is combining its developer-focused XRPL Apex summit with its flagship Swell conference. The event is expected to host more than 1,500 attendees, over 75 speakers, and 50-plus sessions across finance, blockchain infrastructure, and digital assets.

Key themes include payments, tokenization, decentralized finance, AI integration, interoperability, and stablecoins, with RLUSD expected to feature prominently in institutional use cases such as treasury management and cross-border payments.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse highlighted the XRP Ledger surpassing 4 billion transactions as evidence of institutional readiness.

He said, “I’ve been in crypto long enough to know when a moment is real,” framing Swell 2026 as a milestone for adoption, though without addressing implications for XRP valuation.

XRP holder sentiment

Community frustration has broadened, with many retail holders saying Ripple is emphasizing RLUSD and enterprise partnerships while XRP continues to underperform relative to broader company milestones.

Some users issued direct criticism of Ripple leadership, arguing that long-term holders are being overlooked despite supporting the ecosystem through multiple market cycles.

Calls for XRP supply reduction via token burns have resurfaced, though Ripple has consistently avoided such mechanisms.

The divergence between RLUSD-focused messaging and limited XRP-specific emphasis has reinforced concerns among some holders about shifting priorities.

Overall, the intensity of sentiment is notable given XRP’s historically active retail base, and such spikes in negative reaction around major Ripple events can influence short-term market sentiment.