XRP News Today: XRP's Rally Falls Short Against Bitcoin's Market Might

The XRP price has been exhibiting signs of vulnerability as it consistently forms "lower highs" against Bitcoin's recent rally, according to CoinDesk analyst Omkar Godbole. Since July, every Bitcoin upswing has triggered XRP rallies, but these have failed to surpass prior peaks, signaling weakening buyer momentum. For instance, XRP peaked at $3.10 in late September—well below its September high of $3.19—despite Bitcoin hitting a new record of $126,000. This pattern, coupled with XRP's struggle to maintain above a critical $2.65–$2.70 support zone, raises concerns about a potential breakdown and deeper sell-off to $2.00, according to a CoinDesk analysis.

The debate over whether XRP can overtake Bitcoin in market dominance remains heated, with analysts highlighting both XRP's strengths and Bitcoin's entrenched advantages. XRP's fast, low-cost cross-border payment system and its 2024 SEC victory have fueled institutional adoption, particularly in Asia and Europe. Ripple's network now handles billions in transactions annually, challenging SWIFT's dominance. However, Bitcoin's $1.5 trillion market cap dwarfs XRP's $196 billion, and its role as a "digital gold" store of value continues to attract conservative investors, according to Analytics Insight. Analysts argue that for XRP to surpass Bitcoin, it would need a 15x price surge, a feat complicated by Bitcoin's regulatory clarity and energy-efficient proof-of-stake model.

Recent macroeconomic shifts have further tilted the scales in Bitcoin's favor. As Bitcoin dominance (BTC.D) fell to 56.93% in late September—a 30% drop from its 2024 peak—altcoins like XRP historically surged. During past cycles, such declines were followed by XRP rallies exceeding 1,000%. However, XRP's recent 500% gain since November 2024, while impressive, has not yet triggered a full altcoin season. Analyst Dom notes that Bitcoin's current stability above $115,000 suggests capital is still flowing into perceived safe havens, though a deeper drop in BTC.D could reignite altcoin momentum, according to The Currency Analytics.

Regulatory developments remain pivotal. Ripple's ongoing SEC litigation and the pending approval of XRP spot ETFs could unlock institutional capital, but delays—such as the recent U.S. government shutdown—have cooled investor sentiment. Benzinga notes that XRP's future is tied to Ripple's ability to scale its on-demand liquidity (ODL) solution, though the company's pivot toward stablecoins could reduce XRP's utility. In contrast, Ethereum's role as the backbone of stablecoins and DeFi gives it a more diversified edge, with ETH burns creating deflationary pressure.

While XRP's institutional adoption and technical setup suggest potential, Bitcoin's dominance appears secure for now. Ethereum, meanwhile, is viewed as a safer long-term bet due to its broader ecosystem and deflationary mechanics. However, XRP's price could surge if Ripple's legal battles conclude favorably and ETFs gain traction. Analysts like Egrag Crypto assign a 57% probability to XRP hitting new all-time highs by late 2025, contingent on maintaining key support levels. For now, XRP's path to challenging Bitcoin remains fraught with regulatory and market risks, according to Global Gurus.