XRP Slides on Failed Clarity Act as XRP Ledger Advances Batch Upgrade, Lending and AI Payment Support
XRP dropped sharply after the Clarity Act failed in the US Senate, while the XRP Ledger progressed a validator upgrade, released version 3.4.0 with lending amendments, and added AI-agent payment support.
Why it matters
The failed Clarity Act vote renews uncertainty over US crypto legislation and triggered a sharp short-term XRP price move, while parallel XRP Ledger upgrades (Batch V1.1, version 3.4.0, AI payment support) show continued technical development independent of the price action.
Key facts
XRP spiked to $1.41 before reversing inside a symmetrical triangle pattern
1.41 USDReported by U.Today
The XRP Ledger's Batch V1.1 upgrade reached 77.1% validator support, short of the 80% threshold needed to start its 14-day activation countdown
77.1 %Reported by U.Today
The US Senate voted 49-50 against cloture on the Clarity Act, falling short of the 60 votes needed
Reported by U.Today
XRP fell roughly 12.2% after the Clarity Act vote failed, dropping from about $1.45 toward $1.27 before recovering to around $1.29
12.2 %Reported by U.Today
XRPL developers released xrpld version 3.4.0 on September 16, adding LendingProtocolV1_1 and fixCleanup3_4_0 amendments
Reported by Crypto.News
Ripple released version 1.1 of the XRPL AI Starter Kit, adding support for the Machine Payments Protocol developed by Stripe and Tempo, usable with XRP and RLUSD
Reported by BTC-ECHO
David Schwartz's XRPL hub climbed back above 500 connected peers after becoming more stable over the prior two weeks, with 501 peers at latest reading versus a two-week high of 509
501Reported by U.Today
David Schwartz publicly exposed a fake airdrop scam impersonating wallet Xaman on X, which led to rapid suspension of impersonating accounts
Reported by U.Today
What happened
XRP spiked to $1.41 on September 15 before reversing, and U.Today reported the XRP Ledger's Batch V1.1 upgrade reached 77.1% validator support, just short of the 80% threshold needed to start its 14-day activation countdown. The next day, XRP fell roughly 12.2% after the US Senate voted 49-50 against invoking cloture on the Clarity Act, falling short of the 60 votes needed; Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse called the outcome painful but said crypto's progress does not depend solely on the bill, while Ripple CLO Stuart Alderoty said the vote does not affect XRP's current legal status. U.Today reported XRP fell from about $1.45 toward $1.27 before recovering slightly to around $1.29, on a volume spike suggesting active selling. Separately, XRPL developers released xrpld version 3.4.0 on September 16, adding the LendingProtocolV1_1 and fixCleanup3_4_0 amendment packages, though mainnet activation still requires sustained validator consensus above 80% for two weeks (Crypto.News, U.Today). BTC-ECHO reported Ripple expanded the XRP Ledger's AI Starter Kit to version 1.1, adding support for the Stripe/Tempo-developed Machine Payments Protocol so AI agents can transact using XRP or RLUSD. Separately, Ripple's David Schwartz noted his XRPL hub had become more stable over two weeks without a known cause, and later flagged a fake airdrop scam impersonating wallet Xaman circulating on X.
How the story developed
- First report
First report by U.Today
XRP Fakeout Ruins Landmark XRP Ledger Momentum: Main Crypto News This Morning
- Update
XRP spikes to $1.41 then reverses inside triangle pattern
U.Today reported XRP hit $1.41 on Ripple ecosystem news before reversing, trapping retail buyers, as the Batch V1.1 upgrade reached 77.1% validator support.
- Official statement
Clarity Act fails in US Senate, XRP drops about 12.2%
The Senate voted 49-50 against cloture; XRP fell from about $1.45 toward $1.27 before recovering to around $1.29, and Ripple executives Garlinghouse and Alderoty responded publicly.
- Update
XRPL burn rate data shows rising network activity
XRPL data showed roughly 2.1 million transactions, a 23.9% increase, and 337.2 XRP burned as fees versus a 30-day average near 319 XRP.
- Update
Schwartz notes unexplained hub stability improvement
Schwartz posted on X that his XRPL hub had become more stable over two weeks, climbing back above 500 peers, without knowing the cause.
- Independent corroboration
Independently corroborated by BTC-ECHO
XRP bekommt neuen Einsatz: Ripple setzt jetzt auf Zahlungen durch KI-Agenten
- Update
Ripple adds AI-agent payment support to XRP Ledger
BTC-ECHO reported Ripple's XRPL AI Starter Kit 1.1 now supports the Machine Payments Protocol from Stripe and Tempo for XRP and RLUSD payments.
- Update
XRPL version 3.4.0 released with lending and protocol-fix amendments
XRPL Foundation released xrpld 3.4.0 with LendingProtocolV1_1 and fixCleanup3_4_0, requiring sustained 80% validator consensus for mainnet activation.
How coverage built up
Independent sources over time, counted the way the consensus panel counts them: a republication of a wire story does not move the line.
- 15 Sept 2026, 13:10 UTC: U.Today — 1 independent source, 1 reports
- 16 Sept 2026, 07:55 UTC: U.Today — 2 independent sources, 2 reports
Affected entities
Also mentioned: Arbitrum, Federal Reserve
Original sources
| Publisher | Report | Role | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.Today Crypto media | XRP Fakeout Ruins Landmark XRP Ledger Momentum: Main Crypto News This Morning | Original | |
| U.Today Crypto media | XRP's Biggest Hit in 2026: Can XRP Price Recover? | Syndicated | |
| U.Today Crypto media | XRP Burn Rate Surges on the Ledger: Implications for Price | Syndicated | |
| U.Today Crypto media | Another Raid on XRP: Ripple Veteran David Schwartz Personally Exposes Fake Airdrop | Syndicated |
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