XRP, the native digital asset of the Ripple network, was introduced by Ripple Labs Inc. in 2012 as a part of their effort to facilitate fast, affordable, and scalable global payments. Unlike other cryptocurrencies that rely on proof of work, XRP utilises a unique consensus algorithm known as the Ripple Protocol Consensus Algorithm (RPCA), which was detailed in papers by David Schwartz and others. Whereas Bitcoin seeks to eliminate trust in financial transactions, the Ripple network achieves consensus through a system of unique node lists (UNLs), where network participants have a degree of trust in a selected list of validators. The aim is to provide a reliable alternative to the often slow and costly correspondent banking system. Overcoming the Byzantine Generals Problem, RPCA achieves consensus without the high energy cost associated with mining, thereby enabling rapid transaction settlement within seconds.