Ok, my understanding is that Ripple is the company providing the platform and tech, but the tech is XRP itself. XRP is the token that enables fastest money transmission available, up to 1000 trasactions per second according to their claims, capable of handling visa volumes. So there isnt any money transmitting without XRP. So yes, the banks use platform to make transactions between currencies, and the platform uses XRP.
I hear you. Here lies the misunderstanding. If I thought that I would be investing in XRP of course. And maybe that's the same misunderstanding that has created the XRP bubble (75x in a couple months... hello???) if many people think the same.
But it isn't like that. What banks would do is replicate a Ripple network, probably not even use the one you use and know as Ripple/XRP, and use their own issued tokens (as if they were "Ripple" itself).
There is no way banks would be using an "alien" cryptocurrency at the core of their transactions bussiness. Not XRP, not Bitcoin, not anything except what they can control 100%. Bankers may be many things, but they are not stupid when it comes to doing money.
As I said I don't even think they will be using Ripple Lab's Ripple Network... but a replica of it... oh yeah, maybe they also replicate the token and name it XRP... but then it will be THEIR XRP not the one you are holding right now.
Coming back to topic, it looks that not only we are having a good uptrend but also some healthy dip. Not looking bad to me.