Crypto investor and entrepreneur Zach Humphries has pointed to comments from a senior Ripple engineer outlining what is expected to be a significant year ahead for the XRP Ledger.
In his recent post and accompanying video, Humphries emphasized that the roadmap shared by the engineer points to substantial protocol-level enhancements scheduled for this year, with privacy emerging as a central theme alongside programmability, interoperability, and decentralized finance.
According to Humphries, the engineer expressed appreciation for the builders, validators, and members of the XRP community contributing to the ongoing evolution of the XRP Ledger.
The remarks framed 2026 as a pivotal period in which multiple long-anticipated initiatives are expected to converge, potentially reshaping how the network is used by both retail participants and institutions.
🚨 XRP HOLDERS WE HAVE A TOP RIPPLE ENGINEER JUST RELEASED A MAJOR UPGRADE COMING TO THE XRPL THIS YEAR. PRIVACY IS COMING!!!! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/VmCGejuz3v
— Zach Humphries (@ZachHumphries) January 2, 2026
Privacy and Zero-Knowledge Proof Integration
Humphries underscored privacy as the most notable element among the planned upgrades. He explained that while decentralized finance functionality on the XRP Ledger has been discussed for some time, the introduction of privacy features represents a more transformative development. In his assessment, privacy is becoming increasingly important as the digital asset market moves further into an institutional phase.
He noted that institutional participants typically require higher standards of transactional confidentiality than retail users, particularly when dealing with large settlements, treasury operations, or tokenized assets. As a result, privacy-focused technology is expected to become a dominant narrative in 2026, building on early momentum that began forming in 2025.
Recent Amendments and the Path to Native DeFi
Humphries also referenced recent technical progress, including the release of XRPL version 3 in the final month of 2025. This update introduced several amendments, most notably a native lending protocol that is described as nearly code complete.
While not yet open for validator voting at the time of his commentary, the amendments associated with the lending protocol are expected to enter the voting process shortly, a step that would move the network closer to protocol-native credit markets.
Programmable Privacy and Institutional Adoption
Another key area highlighted by Humphries is the integration of zero-knowledge proofs to enable programmable privacy. He pointed to Ripple’s previously unveiled roadmap, which identified privacy and lending as two core priorities.
We are on X, follow us to connect with us :- @TimesTabloid1
— TimesTabloid (@TimesTabloid1) June 15, 2025
The first practical application of this approach is expected to be confidential multi-purpose tokens, scheduled for launch in the first quarter of the year. These tokens are designed to support privacy-preserving collateral management, a feature Humphries described as essential for institutional adoption of tokenized finance and real-world assets.
Market Context and Broader Outlook
While primarily focused on technology, Humphries briefly addressed market structure, noting recent consolidation and key price levels that would be necessary to confirm a trend reversal. He framed these observations as short-term context, reiterating that his longer-term outlook remains tied to the underlying development trajectory of the XRP Ledger.
In his view, the convergence of privacy, DeFi, interoperability, and real-world asset infrastructure positions the network for an important phase of growth if execution aligns with the stated roadmap.
Disclaimer: This content is meant to inform and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author’s personal opinions and do not represent Times Tabloid’s opinion. Readers are advised to conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions. Any action taken by the reader is strictly at their own risk. Times Tabloid is not responsible for any financial losses.
Follow us on X, Facebook, Telegram, and Google News
