Ripple is focusing on institutional users as the initial target for expanding the XRP ecosystem, according to David Schwartz, Ripple's Chief Technology Officer Emeritus. Speaking at the XRP Conference in Las Vegas, Schwartz outlined a strategy that mirrors the early internet's development, where large organizations laid the groundwork for broader consumer adoption. Ripple aims to build the necessary infrastructure for liquidity and trust through enterprise applications before turning to retail users. Schwartz highlighted that the current decentralized finance (DeFi) market, valued at approximately $150 billion, lacks the familiar financial tools needed for mainstream appeal. By prioritizing enterprise needs, Ripple intends to create a stable foundation that will eventually support retail-focused services. The XRP Ledger is positioned as a key platform to connect institutions and users, facilitating broader adoption with low-risk DeFi solutions at its core. Ripple's strategy emphasizes patience and infrastructure development, aiming to establish a robust ecosystem that can eventually make XRP and blockchain technologies more accessible to everyday users. This approach seeks to replicate the internet's evolution, initially driven by institutions but ultimately embraced by the masses.