Ripple was less than $0.10 when I saw it first time and I didn't buy it...I still won't buy it because I'm just not interested in the company.
THere are better alternatives to Ripple with much faster transaction proccess. Why don't bank use Bitshares for example to implement the same operations? Bitshares, ,per their website, process 60,000 tps vs. ripple 1,500 tps.
In Ripple, only institutions can become a "validator" (processor of transactions in Ripple network). Every server processes every transaction according to the same deterministic, known rules.
However, in Bitshares (BTS) ANYONE can supposedly become a validator ("witness"). The stakeholders (i.e. BTS holders) can elect any number of witnesses to generate blocks. Each account is allowed one vote per share per witness. To me BTS does the same things as Ripple but faster and in a more decentralized and democratic way (I know this is not an issue with some people but I rather not go on the same path as current financial system just with some shiny tech names in it).
What's your opinion on Bitshares?
Also what I noticed about the current hype, is that Stellar Lumen (which is similar to Ripple and both initiated by Jeb McCaleb) also had the same run at the same time!