XRP News Today: Bitcoin's Reign Faces Challenge as XRP and Little Pepe Battle for Crypto Supremacy

Bitcoin's dominance in the 2025 bull market has solidified its position with a 57% market share, pushing its price to an all-time high of $126,080 in October, according to a FinanceFeeds report. However, analysts are eyeing a potential shift in momentum, with Ripple's XRP and the meme-driven Little Pepe (LILPEPE) emerging as frontrunners to challenge Bitcoin's supremacy in the next phase of the cycle.

XRP's Institutional Push and $15 Price Target

Ripple's XRP has rebounded to $2.40, up from a recent low of $1.90, fueled by institutional inflows, ETF filings, and strategic partnerships, the FinanceFeeds report says. The acquisition of GTreasury—a $1 billion deal—has positioned XRP as a key player in blockchain-based treasury management, integrating it into corporate liquidity systems, the report adds. Analysts project XRP could surge to $15 as it gains traction in global banking networks and secures ISO 20022 compliance. A breakout above $2.80 could trigger a rally to $3.40–$3.60, with longer-term optimism driven by upcoming ETF approvals and expanding institutional adoption.

Yet, XRP's path isn't without hurdles. Co-founder Chris Larsen's ongoing "cashing out" of XRP, which has generated $764 million in realized profits since 2018, raises concerns about selling pressure, Cointelegraph reported. Meanwhile, Evernorth Holdings' $1 billion XRP treasury initiative and a potential Nasdaq listing underscore Ripple's ambitions to bridge traditional finance and blockchain, CoinEdition reports.

Little Pepe: The Meme Layer 2 Disruptor

While XRP targets institutional adoption, Little Pepe—a meme-based Layer 2 project—has captured retail investor frenzy with its viral presale and innovative ecosystem, the FinanceFeeds report notes. The project has raised over $27.2 million across 13 presale stages, with tokens sold at $0.0022 (a 120% increase from early stages). Its CertiK-audited platform features zero trading fees, a sniper-bot-resistant design, and a meme-only Launchpad to incubate future projects, creating a self-sustaining economy, according to Coincodex.

Little Pepe's unique value proposition lies in its Layer 2 infrastructure, which enables fast, secure transactions and DAO governance. Community-driven incentives, including a 15 ETH Mega Giveaway and a $777k token giveaway, have attracted tens of thousands of holders, the FinanceFeeds report adds. Analysts argue that Little Pepe's 100x growth potential—driven by virality, low fees, and ecosystem utility—could outpace XRP's 5–6x projections.

Broader Market Implications

The CME Group's recent launch of Solana and XRP futures options signals growing institutional confidence in altcoins, as noted in Coincodex. This development is expected to boost liquidity for projects tied to these ecosystems, including Jupiter (JUP), Astar (ASTR), and Cardano (ADA). Additionally, DeepSnitch AI—a project aiming to rival Chainlink's $12 billion market cap—has raised $450,000 in its presale, leveraging AI tools for retail traders, Cryptopolitan reports.

Digitap ($TAP), another contender, is building an "omnibank" app with Visa integration, offering crypto-to-fiat conversions and global payments, Cryptopolitan details. Analysts highlight its live app and buyback-burn model as catalysts for a 150x price surge.

Conclusion

Bitcoin's dominance remains unchallenged for now, but XRP's institutional momentum and Little Pepe's meme-driven innovation are reshaping market dynamics, the FinanceFeeds report concludes. As ETF approvals loom and Layer 2 ecosystems gain traction, the next leg of the bull run could see altcoins outperforming the traditional leader.