XRP has failed to make holders rich like bitcoin and ether. Here’s why
Summary
XRP remains about 62.5% below its January 2018 peak, despite briefly exceeding it in July 2025. Analysts attribute its long-term underperformance to a 63% rise in circulating supply, weaker trading activity and ETF inflows than bitcoin and ether, competition from newer investment narratives, and years of regulatory uncertainty. XRP’s circulating market value is close to its 2018 level, meaning supply growth has diluted the per-token price comparison. The SEC case ended in August 2025 after Ripple was fined $125 million. Analysts say investors should track XRP’s performance against bitcoin, token distribution and fund holdings to assess demand.
