Cardano Surpasses Ethereum in Developer Activity, But Trails in DeFi Dominance and Market Cap

XRP Price Targets $6 Breakout Amid Regulatory Clarity and ETF Developments

Analysts highlight a bullish technical setup for XRP in September 2025, driven by a potential MACD crossover on the two-day chart, a pattern historically preceding significant gains. At $3.12, XRP remains near key support levels, with $5–$6 seen as short-term targets if the crossover confirms. Ripple’s expanding institutional adoption and ongoing legal clarity from the SEC’s dismissal of the Ripple lawsuit add to the bullish case. The SEC’s recent approval of generic listing standards for crypto ETFs has further bolstered optimism, with 11 XRP ETF applications pending, including the REX-Osprey XRP ETF (XRPR), set to launch on September 18. Market observers note that ETF approvals could drive institutional demand, potentially propelling XRP toward $3.70 or higher in a strong scenario.

Cardano (ADA) Gains Momentum Amid Developer Activity but Trails Ethereum

Cardano surpassed Ethereum in core developer activity in 2025, with 21,439 GitHub commits across 550 repositories, compared to Ethereum’s 20,962. ADA’s price action, however, remains modest, trading around $0.69 with a market cap of $24.2 billion, significantly below Ethereum’s $470.1 billion. While Cardano’s focus on academic rigor and governance innovation attracts niche developers, Ethereum maintains dominance in DeFi, NFTs, and enterprise adoption. Ethereum’s transition to proof-of-stake and EIP-4844 upgrades have reduced gas fees and improved scalability, reinforcing its position as the leading smart contract platform.

Layer Brett Emerges as a Potential SHIB Challenger

Amid debates over the next meme coin breakout, Layer Brett (LBRETT) has gained traction as a high-upside contender. Priced at $0.0055 in its presale, Layer Brett operates as an Ethereum Layer 2 solution, offering 10,000 TPS, $0.0001 gas fees, and 900% staking APY. Analysts argue that Layer Brett’s infrastructure advantages—such as instant transactions and interoperability—position it to outperform Shiba Inu (SHIB) and Pepe (PEPE), which lack scalable utility. SHIB, trading at $0.0000123, faces challenges from stagnant adoption and high network congestion, while Pepe’s bearish technicals limit its upside. Layer Brett’s community-driven model and $1 million giveaway program further enhance its appeal as a speculative play.

XRP’s Regulatory and Institutional Catalysts

The SEC’s generic listing standards for crypto ETFs have streamlined approvals, with Grayscale’s Digital Large Cap ETF (GDLC) and Bitwise 10 Crypto Index ETF (BITW) among the pending applications. XRP’s inclusion in these products, coupled with Ripple’s legal victory, has reduced regulatory uncertainty. Institutional adoption, including partnerships with DBS Bank and Franklin Templeton, also supports XRP’s utility in cross-border payments. If the REX-Osprey ETF performs well and SEC approvals follow, XRP could see a surge in demand, potentially testing $3.66, its all-time high.

Cardano’s Long-Term Challenges and Ethereum’s Dominance

Despite developer growth, Cardano’s ecosystem remains underdeveloped, with $250 million in TVL and limited DeFi adoption compared to Ethereum’s $60 billion+. Ethereum’s robust tooling, EVM compatibility, and enterprise integrations—such as Microsoft and JPMorgan’s use cases—solidify its leadership. Cardano’s focus on formal methods and sustainability may appeal to niche markets, but its slow rollout of features like Hydra scaling solutions has hindered mainstream adoption. Analysts project ADA’s price to reach $1.05–$1.50 in the short term but note that Ethereum’s dominance in utility and market integration is unlikely to wane.

Meme Coin Dynamics and Risk Factors

While SHIB and PEPE remain popular, their reliance on speculative demand and lack of real-world use cases make them vulnerable to market rotations. Layer Brett’s Ethereum Layer 2 infrastructure and staking incentives differentiate it as a hybrid of meme virality and functional utility. However, risks include regulatory scrutiny, market volatility, and execution challenges. Investors are advised to conduct due diligence, as presale tokens and high APYs may not guarantee long-term success.