Ripple executed a series of large XRP transfers collectively worth nearly $1.88 billion for a total network fee of approximately $0.0013 — a fraction of a cent for nearly two billion dollars moved. Comparable Bitcoin transactions would have cost thousands of dollars in miner fees.

Side-by-Side Comparison

XRP Ledger: 0.00001 XRP per transaction (under $0.0001). Settlement in 3–5 seconds. Fees burned.

Bitcoin: Fees typically $0.50–$5+ per transaction, sometimes over $60 during peak demand. Confirmation in 10–60 minutes. Fees paid to miners.

Ethereum: Gas fees typically $0.10–$20+ per transaction, volatile based on network congestion. Fees paid to validators.

Why the Difference Is So Large

Bitcoin fees are driven by block space competition — miners prioritize transactions with higher fees, so demand for block space directly inflates costs. Ethereum's gas mechanism works similarly. XRP's consensus protocol does not use competitive bidding, so fees remain flat and predictable regardless of transaction size or network activity (except during rare congestion spikes).

Cross-Border Payment Use Case

For international remittances, the XRP fee advantage is transformative. A traditional SWIFT wire transfer can cost $15–$50 in bank fees plus currency conversion spreads. An XRP transfer costs under $0.001 and settles in under 5 seconds.