On March 13, 2025, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) website published a document titled Comprehensive Proposal: XRP as a Strategic Financial Asset for the U.S., sparking widespread attention across financial and digital asset circles. The five-page submission outlines a bold vision for integrating XRP into the nation’s financial infrastructure, positioning it as a catalyst for modernizing cross-border payments and unlocking substantial economic efficiencies.
While the document carries the official appearance of an SEC publication, it was submitted by an individual commenter—Maximilian Staudinger—and does not represent official agency policy. Nevertheless, its detailed framework has fueled discussion about the potential role of digital assets in national economic strategy.
Why XRP Could Be a Strategic National Asset
The proposal argues that adopting XRP at a government level could unlock up to 30% of the U.S.’ $5 trillion share** in global Nostro accounts—amounting to **$1.5 trillion in liquidity. These accounts, held by U.S. banks abroad in foreign currencies, are critical for international settlements but come with high transaction costs and delays.
By leveraging XRP’s fast settlement times and low fees, the document suggests the U.S. could save approximately $7.5 billion annually in transaction costs. These savings, it proposes, should be redirected toward acquiring Bitcoin (BTC) as a strategic reserve asset.
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The plan estimates that accumulated savings could support the purchase of up to 25 million BTC, assuming an average price of $60,000. While this figure exceeds the total Bitcoin supply (capped at 21 million), the intent appears illustrative rather than literal—emphasizing the scale of fiscal opportunity rather than prescribing an unfeasible acquisition target.
Notably, the document acknowledges Bitcoin’s established role as a decentralized store of value, aligning with growing institutional and governmental interest in crypto reserves.
“XRP enables fast, low-cost transactions, global acceptance, and independence from central banks. It diversifies reserves, protects against fiat risks, and leverages secure blockchain technology.”
— Maximilian Staudinger, March 3, 2025
How XRP Could Be Integrated into U.S. Finance
To operationalize this vision, the proposal outlines key regulatory actions:
- The SEC should reclassify XRP as a payment network utility, not a security.
- The Department of Justice (DoJ) should lift banking restrictions on entities using XRP in Sections 2, 5, and 6 of relevant financial regulations.
These steps aim to remove legal barriers that could hinder widespread adoption. However, the document overlooks recent developments: in January 2025, the SEC dropped its appeal in the Ripple v. SEC case, effectively accepting the court’s ruling that XRP is not a security when sold to retail investors.
Despite this progress, the proposal suggests that forced regulatory settlement may be necessary if voluntary cooperation stalls—justified by the projected economic benefits.
Implementation would require coordination between federal agencies, including the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), to mandate integration across banking systems.
Implementation Timeline: Standard vs. Accelerated
The document presents two pathways for rollout:
- Standard Program (12–24 months): Phased integration with pilot programs in select federal agencies and financial institutions.
- Accelerated Program (6–12 months): Rapid deployment supported by executive mandates and emergency funding mechanisms.
Both plans include milestones such as regulatory clarification, technical integration with legacy systems, and training for financial operators. However, the proposal lacks granular detail on risk assessment, cybersecurity protocols, or interagency coordination frameworks.
Clarifying the Role of Other Cryptocurrencies
Amid confusion surrounding former President Donald Trump’s statements on a potential U.S. digital asset reserve, the document offers a structured framework assigning specific roles to different blockchains:
- Bitcoin (BTC): Designated as the strategic reserve asset, serving as a long-term store of value.
- XRP: Positioned as the primary tool for government-level cross-border transactions, offering speed and cost efficiency.
- Solana (SOL): Recommended for high-speed applications, including real-time government databases, secure voting systems, and digital identity solutions.
- Cardano (ADA): Proposed for use in academic credentialing, smart contracts for public services, and secure infrastructure management.
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This multi-chain approach reflects a nuanced understanding of blockchain strengths—avoiding a one-size-fits-all model in favor of purpose-driven adoption.
“Solana and Cardano should be integrated into U.S. digital infrastructure but not included in the reserve strategy. Instead, they enhance efficiency and security for state applications, while XRP remains the key asset for financial transactions.”
Questions About Authenticity and Authorship
Despite its polished structure and use of bullet points, tables, and subheadings, several aspects raise questions about the document’s origins:
- The writing style bears similarities to outputs generated by advanced AI models like ChatGPT.
- Unusual formatting choices—such as excessive checkmarks—mirror common AI-generated patterns.
- The author, Maximilian Staudinger, is not known to be affiliated with any major financial or policy institution.
Public records show individuals by that name in Germany, Austria, and Canada—mostly linked to LinkedIn profiles or social media accounts. Notably, an X (formerly Twitter) account under @MaxStau posted on March 3, 2025, discussing the logic behind Bitcoin and XRP reserves—echoing key arguments in the proposal.
While this suggests the author may have genuine interest in digital asset policy, there is no evidence confirming deeper institutional involvement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Is this document an official SEC policy?
A: No. It is a public comment submitted by an individual and published on the SEC’s website as part of its open-comment system. It does not reflect official agency stance or endorsement.
Q: Can XRP really save $7.5 billion annually?
A: The figure is theoretical, based on projected reductions in transaction fees across Nostro accounts. Real-world savings would depend on adoption scale, integration costs, and market conditions.
Q: Does the U.S. government currently hold XRP or Bitcoin?
A: The U.S. holds Bitcoin seized through law enforcement actions but does not maintain a strategic crypto reserve. There are no public records indicating government ownership of XRP.
Q: Was AI used to write this proposal?
A: There is no confirmed evidence, but stylistic elements suggest possible AI assistance. The structure and phrasing resemble outputs from large language models.
Q: What is a Nostro account?
A: A Nostro account is a bank account held by a domestic bank in a foreign country, denominated in that country’s currency, used for international transactions.
Q: Could the U.S. legally adopt XRP for state transactions?
A: Legally, yes—provided regulatory clarity exists. With XRP no longer classified as a security in key rulings, such adoption faces fewer legal hurdles, though congressional or executive authorization would likely be required.
Final Thoughts and Recommendations
The document concludes with a section titled Next Steps & Final Recommendations, which largely recaps earlier points without introducing new analysis. This repetition further supports the view that the paper may be more conceptual than actionable.
Still, its emergence reflects growing momentum around strategic digital asset adoption. As nations explore central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and crypto reserves, proposals like this contribute to broader policy discourse.
Core keywords naturally integrated throughout include: XRP, strategic asset, SEC, Bitcoin reserve, Nostro accounts, digital infrastructure, cross-border payments, and government blockchain adoption.
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While not an official blueprint, the proposal underscores a compelling idea: that purpose-driven use of blockchain technology could enhance national financial resilience, reduce costs, and position the U.S. as a leader in next-generation monetary systems.