XRP News Today: Will XRP's 2025 Rally Echo 2017—or Repeat 2021’s Doubt?

Analysts are drawing parallels between XRP's current market dynamics and its 2017 bull run, suggesting a potential setup for significant gains by 2025. However, the conditions in 2025 differ notably from those in 2017, raising questions about the likelihood of a repeat of historical performance. In 2017, XRP's price surged by over 11,900% within a year, driven by strong investor sentiment and a consolidation phase within a large symmetrical triangle. Today, while XRP is consolidating again, the sentiment among long-term holders shows signs of doubt rather than the euphoria seen in 2017 [2].

The Net Unrealized Profit/Loss (NUPL) metric for long-term XRP holders indicates a shift in market psychology. In 2017, long-term holders remained in the Euphoria–Greed zone throughout the rally, but in 2025, the NUPL data shows a move into the Belief–Denial phase, signaling hesitation among investors [2]. This pattern is more similar to the 2021 market top, where initial excitement gave way to uncertainty before a market correction [2]. The current market environment is further complicated by increased competition from other major cryptocurrencies like Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and Sui (SUI), as well as the growing influence of stablecoins in cross-border settlement [2].

Technical indicators also highlight the challenges XRP faces in replicating its 2017 performance. The XRP/BTC pair, which surged by 3,700% in 2017, has rebounded to around 0.000025 BTC in September 2025 but remains about 90% below its historical peak [2]. The pair is currently testing a long-term distribution zone, a price range that has historically stalled rallies between 2019 and 2022 [2]. Unlike in 2017, when XRP was one of the few large-cap altcoins with a clear narrative around payments, the current market is more crowded, with multiple players competing for attention and adoption [2].

Despite these challenges, XRP's technological advancements and institutional partnerships could position it for future growth. The XRP Ledger (XRPL) is being expanded with EVM sidechains and programmable extensions, enhancing its capabilities in DeFi and tokenization [4]. Ripple's introduction of RLUSD, a stablecoin on both XRPL and Ethereum, aims to boost liquidity for AMMs, DEXs, and smart contracts, further integrating XRP into the broader crypto ecosystem [4]. These developments suggest that XRP is evolving beyond its original cross-border payment use case and could find new applications in the DeFi space [4].

However, XRP still faces regulatory and adoption hurdles. While the SEC's partial resolution of Ripple's legal battle has opened the door to U.S. exchanges, some uncertainty remains regarding Ripple's evolving business model [5]. In contrast, Ethereum has gained stronger institutional adoption and regulatory clarity, with ETH ETFs gaining traction and the network transitioning to a more energy-efficient Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism [5]. Ethereum's robust smart contract platform and broader ecosystem give it an edge in terms of utility and long-term potential [5]. Analysts note that while XRP's potential for short-term gains exists, Ethereum's structural strengths make it a more compelling long-term investment [5].

In summary, while XRP's 2025 setup mirrors elements of its 2017 bull run, the current market environment presents unique challenges and opportunities. The asset's ability to replicate its previous performance will depend on factors such as institutional adoption, regulatory developments, and the broader crypto market's trajectory [2].

Source:

[1] title1 (https://cryptoslate.com/swift-cio-questions-ripple-and-xrps-readiness-for-global-banking-standards/)

[2] title2 (https://cointelegraph.com/news/betting-on-xrp-2017-bull-run-extremely-risky-in-2025)

[3] title3 (https://cointelegraph.com/news/price-predictions-9-3-btc-eth-xrp-bnb-sol-doge-ada-link-hype-sui)

[4] title4 (https://messari.io/compare/xrp-ledger-vs-ethereum)

[5] title5 (https://globalgurus.org/xrp-vs-ethereum-which-is-the-better-buy-in-2025/)