I can help shed some light on Ripple Payment Protocol. According to https://marketbusinessnews.com/financial-glossary/ripple-payment-protocol-definition/ , Ripple Payment Protocol is not a cryptocurrency in the traditional sense. Instead, it's open-source protocol designed to facilitate fast, secure, and low-cost cross-border payments. Ripple operates on a distributed ledger technology, similar to blockchain, but with some key differences. While cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum use a proof-of-work consensus mechanism, Ripple employs a unique consensus algorithm called the Ripple Protocol Consensus Algorithm (RPCA). This makes it faster and more energy-efficient than traditional proof-of-work blockchains. Ripple's native digital asset, XRP, is often associated with it. However, XRP serves as a bridge currency within the Ripple network, facilitating the exchange of different currencies. It's essential to distinguish between Ripple, the protocol, and XRP, the cryptocurrency.