Ripple’s XRP is experiencing a remarkable surge in market activity and optimism. The intense vibe shift has analysts predicting that XRP could soon rival Ethereum’s market cap.

Sam Ruskin, an analyst at blockchain research firm Messari, suggested that XRP might surpass Ethereum in valuation within the next month. Ruskin attributes this potential milestone to several converging factors, including heightened market enthusiasm, political developments, and an increased focus on OG cryptocurrencies, dubbed “boomer coins” or “dino coins”.

Market Trends Favor XRP

Ruskin noted that XRP has performed extremely well, up 460% since the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 5, 2024. He identified a strong correlation between market sentiment and external events such as Donald Trump’s re-election. “The inauguration could spark a large buying event for XRP, similar to the post-election rally of 2016,” Ruskin said in a post on X called, The Case for XRP Flipping ETH.

XRP vs. ETH market cap comparison. Source: Sam Ruskin via X

This surge has positioned XRP as a favorite among retail and institutional investors alike, especially with rising speculation about the approval of an XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the U.S. under the new administration. Ruskin also highlighted that new U.S. tax regulations, which may benefit domestic crypto projects, could further drive investment in XRP.

Ethereum Faces Challenges

While XRP gains traction, Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, appears to be grappling with headwinds. Ruskin noted that Ethereum was still 30% below its all-time high of $4,800, despite record levels of open interest. The disconnect here is a sign of weak investor demand and internal problems in the Ethereum ecosystem, such as community splits and competition from new blockchain networks. The recent Trump Meme Coin launch on Solana, caused Solana to skyrocket 15% overnight, but tanked ETH, with Solana now the token launch network of choice for the wider market.

Ethereum (ETH) price vs. Open Interest. Source: Sam Ruskin via X

In contrast, XRP has demonstrated a strong alignment between price movement and open interest, signaling greater market conviction. According to Ruskin, this dynamic could lead to a 35–50% price increase for XRP in the months following Trump’s presidency, potentially bringing its market cap closer to Ethereum’s $415 billion valuation.

Record-Breaking Performance

XRP recently came close to breaking its all-time high price of $3.40, set in January 2018. On Thursday, it peaked at $3.38, a 45% jump over the last week. The rally puts the spotlight certainly on XRP, which is up 560% since Election Day.

XRP outperformed BNB, SOL, and USDT in terms of market capitalization growth. Source: Sam Ruskin via X

Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, has been leading from the front with this momentum. With more than $143 billion worth of XRP held by Ripple, the firm is wasting no time in considering acquisitions that would further cement its position in the crypto world. “Ripple is in discussions with several startups and expects to accelerate its deal-making activity, and work towards enabling Tokenization,” a company spokesperson said.

Ripple’s Strategic Moves

Recently, Ripple joined the stablecoin market with the RLUSD token, which has seen a surge in trading volumes on a few exchanges. Its new Tokenization strategy involves acquiring firms in crypto custody and stablecoin businesses to consolidate its position in the increasingly competitive market.

Ripple’s XRP price vs. Open Interest. Source: Sam Ruskin via X

Moreover, not even the legal tussles between Ripple and the U.S. SEC deterred its progress. As if for a dare, even though the SEC has filed an appeal for a partial ruling in favor of Ripple, the company scaled operations on growing investor confidence with a friendlier regulatory outlook of the new administration.

XRP’s Future Prospects

Ripple (XRP) price chart. Source:XRP Liquid Index (XRPLX) via Brave New Coin

As market dynamics evolve, XRP’s trajectory appears increasingly promising. With the potential approval of an XRP ETF, continued investor interest, and strategic acquisitions, the cryptocurrency is well-positioned for significant growth. However, whether it can ultimately surpass Ethereum’s market cap remains to be seen, as much depends on external factors and the broader crypto market’s performance.

For now, Ripple’s XRP news is positive. The recent XRP price rise is a testament to its resilience and the growing influence of Ripple in the rapidly changing cryptocurrency landscape. With rumors that XRP will be greenlit for inclusion in an American Crypto Reserve under President Trump, XRP’s prospects could not be bright. Raise your price predictions, XRP is headed to the moon in 2025.

Will XRP be included in an American Crypto Reserve? Source: NYP

Solana (SOL) is surging again with its price climbing approximately 8.9% over the past week.

This momentum is largely attributed to the platform’s expanding ecosystem, including the integration of Ethereum’s Solidity developers through Hyperledger Solang. Additionally, the recent addition of Solana to Robinhood’s cryptocurrency offerings has increased accessibility for U.S. traders, which brings the question of whether Solana could reach $700 at some point.

Meanwhile, projects like PlutoChain ($PLUTO) could also attract attention in the coming weeks. This Layer-2 solution has the potential to enhance Bitcoin’s blockchain by enabling smart contracts and decentralized applications, potentially paving the way for exciting new opportunities.

Let’s check out the deets.

Technical Charts Hold Insights. Will Network Growth Drive SOL to $700?

As of January 5, 2025, Solana (SOL) is trading at approximately $213.29, with a slight decrease of about 1.13% over the past 24 hours.

Technical analysis indicates that SOL is trading within a local channel, facing resistance at approximately $222.15. A successful breach of this resistance could drive the price toward the $230–$240 range in the near term. Support levels are at $207.85, $199.51, and $193.55, which may serve as potential rebound points in the event of a price decline. The 50-day moving average (MA) is currently at $220.70, while the 200-day MA stands at $170.10, indicating a bullish trend.

This ‘golden cross’ suggests that SOL has been gaining momentum over the short term compared to its longer-term trend, which is typically a positive sign for investors. Analysts have weighed in with optimistic projections for Solana’s future. Lark Davis, a well-known cryptocurrency influencer, suggests that Solana could reach prices between $300 and $600 by 2025, citing its strong fundamentals and ecosystem growth.

Kelvin (@KEmmra) predicts that Solana ($SOL) could reach the $600 range, with the Stochastic RSI being a key indicator, similar to the previous prediction for Bitcoin hitting $58k, as shown in the charts.

Could PlutoChain Be the Key to Smart Contracts and Bringing New Upgrades on Bitcoin?

PlutoChain ($PLUTO) is introducing a new Layer-2 solution that could significantly enhance Bitcoin’s blockchain by enabling compatibility with smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps).

Historically, Bitcoin’s 10-minute block time has limited its ability to support these advanced features, which is why faster alternatives like Ethereum and Solana have gained favor. However, PlutoChain might just change this by offering transaction speeds as fast as two seconds on its own proprietary chain.

This could allow developers to leverage Bitcoin’s strong, decentralized network to create new applications, potentially expanding Bitcoin’s use cases. One of the key indicators of its potential is the platform’s testnet, which is already processing over 43,200 transactions per day.

This impressive throughput demonstrates PlutoChain’s scalability and readiness for deployment in real-world applications. A particularly compelling feature of PlutoChain is its community governance model. By allowing users to vote on protocol updates, PlutoChain ensures that the network remains decentralized, giving the community direct control over decisions.

In addition to its governance model, PlutoChain has gained credibility by passing rigorous audits from reputable firms such as SolidProof, QuillAudits, and Assure DeFi. These audits provide assurance to users and developers that PlutoChain meets the highest security standards, further boosting its legitimacy and trustworthiness within the blockchain ecosystem.

The platform also benefits from its compatibility with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), which could combine Bitcoin’s security with the flexibility and adaptability of Ethereum. This may open up exciting opportunities for new projects in decentralized finance (DeFi), NFTs, and AI, further enhancing PlutoChain’s potential to revolutionize the blockchain space.

Final Thoughts

While Solana’s recent growth has captured attention, $700 might not come as soon as some market analysts believe.

But, PlutoChain ($PLUTO) could generate substantial buzz in the next few weeks upon its potential mainnet launch. Its Layer-2 solution could revolutionize Bitcoin by enabling smart contracts and decentralized applications, potentially bringing a host of new possibilities.

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Silently emerging from South Korea’s active crypto market, a single XRP transfer has attracted much attention today. Whale Alert flagged a movement of 30 million XRP — valued at $95.52 million — originating from Upbit, the country’s leading cryptocurrency exchange. The funds left a wallet labelled “rDxJNb” and arrived at an unrecognized address, “r325zs5Z.”

Unusual? Not really, we saw similar transfers in previous weeks too, although they are rarely ignored, because of the scale alone. While some speculate that this could indicate accumulation by a large investor, others lean toward the possibility of an internal operation by the exchange itself.

The destination address remains a mystery, and its ownership unverified, although routine liquidity management between hot wallets cannot be ruled out.

Korean investors are known to be interested in XRP, which makes this transfer interesting. Local trading platforms often show the token dominating volume. So this big move will definitely be looked at more closely.

Related

But what does it actually mean? When people take money out of an exchange, it is often seen as a sign that whales are moving their holdings into private wallets, which is usually seen as a good thing. But the lack of further clarity makes it hard to say for sure. It’s possible that this was just a regular operational move, maybe an exchange-led reallocation.

Without getting into all the rumors, the transfer shows us something we already know: Big deals in the crypto world are always a bit interesting, especially when they involve XRP, a token that’s always in the spotlight. Without knowing more, the market just has to sit back and see how things turn out, keeping a balance between being hopeful and being careful.

Solana has faced impressive growth recently. It rose over 200% this year and reached its all-time high of $264.18 on November 22, 2024 before slightly dipping down again. 

Confidence in Solana’s future is growing as adoption increases and key developments continue to push its progress. But it raises the question – could SOL hit $500 by January 2025? 

We’ve analyzed the latest data and trends to see a clearer picture of what might lie ahead for Solana’s price.

In the meantime, PlutoChain ($PLUTO), a new Layer-2 solution for Bitcoin, could gain attention with its plan to bring smart contracts to the Bitcoin network. This upgrade could open up new opportunities for Bitcoin in decentralized finance (DeFi) and make it more versatile than ever.

Let’s take a closer look at what’s coming next.

Solana Price Prediction — Do Technical Indicators Point to a $500 Milestone by January 2025?

Solana has been taking off recently, with some important developments in institutional adoption and strategic partnerships. In the third quarter of 2024, Solana projects secured over $170 million in funding – a 54% increase from the previous quarter.

This surge in investment proves to us the growing institutional interest in Solana’s blockchain applications.

Crypto asset manager Bitwise has introduced a Solana Staking Exchange Traded Product (ETP), expanding its lineup of institutional investment offerings. Listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange’s Xetra platform, the ETP aims to deliver institutional-grade access to Solana’s native cryptocurrency, SOL.

Additionally, Solana Labs has partnered with Google Cloud to launch Gameshift, a Web3 API designed to bridge traditional Web2 experiences with Web3 services. This collaboration focuses on advancing the development of decentralized applications on Solana’s network.

As of December 17, 2024, the price of SOL stands just under $220, with a 24 Hour Trading Volume of $7,2B and a market cap of over $100B.

The technical indicators for this asset show a generally positive outlook, with five indicators signaling a buy, four neutral, and two suggesting a sell.

The RSI is neutral at 51, while the MACD and ADX both point to bullish momentum. The Ultimate Oscillator and ROC also indicate buying strength.

However, the STOCHRSI and Bull/Bear Power show some signs of weakness and suggest caution. Overall, the market seems to be leaning toward a potential upward trend, but volatility is high, so caution is advised.

The moving averages for this asset are showing a mixed signal. While the MA20 and MA50 indicate a buy, most of the other moving averages suggest a sell. The shorter-term moving averages (MA5, MA10) are both signaling sell, and the longer-term averages (MA100, MA200) also show a bearish trend. Overall, the data suggests a sell signal, although the MA20 and MA50 provide some support for a potential short-term upside.

Although the technical indicators don’t put Solana at the top of the list, some analysts believe in a bull run.

Sathvik Vishwanath, co-founder and CEO of Unocoin, believes that despite the current market volatility and a slight dip in Solana’s price, the cryptocurrency has strong growth potential. If bullish trends and network development continue, SOL could reach $500 by the end of the year.

CoinCodex also forecasts SOL to trade between $222 and $500 in 2025. However, their prediction is more conservative – an average of $246.52 in January. According to their projection, SOL could climb to a peak of $500 by August.

PlutoChain and Bitcoin: The Next Big Step in Decentralized Finance?

PlutoChain ($PLUTO) could provide a fresh solution for Bitcoin by using Layer-2 technology, which allows for smart contracts and decentralized apps (dApps) to run on its network.

Bitcoin’s 10-minute block time makes it less suitable for complex applications, while platforms such as Ethereum, Solana, and Cardano offer faster speeds and more flexibility.

PlutoChain is trying to solve this problem with a block time of just 2 seconds which could allow developers to create powerful dApps while still benefiting from Bitcoin’s security and trust.

PlutoChain In-Depth Analyze — Main Features and Extras

PlutoChain might offer a fresh take on Bitcoin with new features that could transform its current role. One standout achievement is its testnet, which already handles over 43,000 transactions daily.

This impressive figure highlights its scalability and potential for real-world applications and shows that it’s ready for much broader adoption.

On top of that, PlutoChain supports community governance and allows developers to be a part in deciding updates and changes to the network. This promises that the platform grows based on the community’s needs, which makes it more inclusive and decentralized.

To maintain trust and reliability, PlutoChain has passed independent audits from SolidProof, QuillAudits, and Assure DeFi. These audits check the platform’s safety and performance and give users more confidence in its system.

Another key feature is its Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility, which combines Ethereum’s flexibility with Bitcoin’s security. This might make it easier to bring Ethereum-based applications onto Bitcoin’s network and could opens up exciting possibilities for DeFi, NFTs, and AI-powered projects.

Final Thoughts

Bitcoin has traditionally been viewed as a store of value rather than a platform for innovation, but PlutoChain could change that.

By adding smart contracts to Bitcoin’s network, it potentially opens the door for developers to create DeFi protocols, NFT platforms, and other decentralized applications. This could bring new possibilities to Bitcoin and allow it to move beyond being just a store of value while still relying on its strong security.

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Please remember that this article is purely informational and not financial advice. Any and all cryptocurrencies are volatile, with prices prone to rapid changes. Always do your own research and consult an expert before joining any crypto venture. We are not liable for any outcomes based on the information in this article. Statements about the future entail risks and may not reflect updates.

The recent Dogecoin resurgence has caught the attention of notable market analyst Javon Marks, who speculates a sustained northward trend.

The largest meme coin by market cap has regained bullish momentum after briefly reclaiming levels above $0.4000. Dogecoin surged over 10% yesterday, reclaiming the price zone after almost one month.

Although the prominent meme coin has consolidated slightly today, Dogecoin has appreciated over 18% this week, spurred by a broader market rebound. Furthermore, a resurgence in whale accumulation has also contributed to the recent form.

Meanwhile, market analyst Javon Marks suggested that the bullish traction will persist. He predicted an over threefold price uptick to unprecedented highs.

A Dogecoin Surge on the Horizon

Marks stated in a January 17 post that Dogecoin is back showing strength amid the latest rally. In truth, the meme coin has recently shown bullish prospects, surging to an almost six-week high of $0.4351 earlier on Jan. 18.

Furthermore, the market expert suggested further upsides, citing Dogecoin’s historic cyclical performances. For context, the doggy-themed meme coin surged 12,000% four years ago and over 5,000% in 2017, spurred by bull market momentum.

With that in mind, Marks asserted that Dogecoin could surge over 432% to at least $2.28758 in the coming days. Per an accompanying chart, the unprecedented price mark lies at the 1.618 Fibonacci level, where the meme coin peaked in the last two cycles.

Notably, Marks earlier predicted that Dogecoin would hit $20 this year. However, his recent analysis suggests that he has reviewed his price call.

Correlating Dogecoin Predictions

Meanwhile, Marks Dogecoin’s prediction aligns with price outlooks from other notable market analysts. For instance, Trader Tardigrade asserted last week that Dogecoin will surge to at least 2% this cycle and 8% in 2028, citing a recurring cyclical performance.

Prominent market analyst Ali Martinez also predicted a similar price action. He stated that the leading meme coin would hit $2 this cycle, also citing previous performances in the bull cycle.

However, Martinez has reviewed his $2 prediction, speculating much higher prices for the token. In a recent analysis, he insisted that Dogecoin could hit ambitious prices like $18 and $23 if the bull cycle goes wild.

Currently, Dogecoin trades at $0.3909, down 6% in the past 24 hours.

With a strong start to the year, XRP’s $139.31 billion market cap and $3.97 billion trading volume show room for growth in 2025. 

Another significant factor is Ripple Labs’ recent regulatory win and the promise of lighter oversight under new leadership.

At the same time, other projects like PlutoChain ($PLUTO) could tackle big issues in blockchain by adding smart contracts to Bitcoin and making it faster and more versatile.

Let’s check out all the details.

Granular Analysis of XRP Technical Charts and Market Sentiment to See Whether It Will Soar to $15 by Mid-2025

As of January 19th, 2025, XRP is trading at around $3.12 down 0.18% in the last 24 hours. Its market cap is sitting at a hefty $178.31 billion, which makes it the third-largest cryptocurrency by value.

Over the past week, XRP has climbed 22%, which adds to an impressive 466% gain over the last year. It’s also seeing strong activity, with a 24-hour trading volume of about $10 billion.

While XRP hasn’t yet reclaimed its all-time high of $3.40 set back in January 2018, it’s only 9% shy of that peak.

And compared to its all-time low of just $0.002686 in May 2014, XRP’s growth is staggering — over 116058%.

The current RSI is at around 59, which means it is in neutral to mildly bullish territory.

XRP’s recent surge comes after Ripple Labs secured approval from the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) for its U.S. Dollar-pegged stablecoin, RLUSD.

This development has fueled optimism among investors, who are also looking ahead to potential regulatory changes under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration which will be sworn in on Monday.

With crypto-friendly Paul Atkins soon to take the helm as SEC Chair, many expect a lighter regulatory touch on digital assets.

The XRP Avengers predict that XRP will reach $15 by the end of January 2025, comparing its current price movement to the explosive growth it experienced in March 2017. Armando Pantoja predicts XRP resistance levels at $3.50 and $4, followed by a potential rise to $8 and $10.

He attributes this potential rise to a balanced RSI, whale accumulation during price dips, and increased utility from the RLUSD stablecoin launch.

AltcoinMarksman predicts after reaching $3 XRP will fluctuate between $3.50 and $5 for some time, and peak at $5 to $7 during the bull run.

PlutoChain ($PLUTO) Could be The Future Bitcoin Upgrades – Here’s How This Layer-2 Project Operates

PlutoChain ($PLUTO) could change how we think about Bitcoin by potentially tackling its long-standing challenges.

Bitcoin often faces slow transaction speeds, network congestion, and high fees—issues that can frustrate users and limit its potential.

PlutoChain’s solution lies in a hybrid Layer-2 network that could work alongside Bitcoin’s blockchain. This design could reduce traffic, lower costs, and enhance scalability.

While Bitcoin’s block time is a sluggish 10 minutes, PlutoChain’s Layer-2 solution could slash it to just 2 seconds on its own chain.

It could also introduce smart contract functionality without compromising Bitcoin’s legendary security.

This would turn Bitcoin into more than just a store of value and transform it into a versatile and robust platform.

Another standout feature is PlutoChain’s compatibility with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM).

Developers could bring Ethereum-based projects into Bitcoin’s ecosystem, which would pave the way for decentralized finance (DeFi), NFTs, and AI innovations to thrive on Bitcoin’s network.

During testing, PlutoChain processed 43,200 transactions daily without a hitch, which means it’s ready for real-world use.

Its security framework has been rigorously examined by SolidProof, QuillAudits, and Assure DeFi, to guarantee security and reliability.

Through Discord, users can suggest upgrades, partnerships, and features, ensuring the platform evolves in ways that benefit everyone.

This collaborative approach reflects PlutoChain’s commitment to building a network that prioritizes its users.

Final Thoughts

XRP’s path to $15 is full of possibilities, but it depends on more than just optimism. Ripple’s legal battle, upcoming regulatory changes, and market trends will play a big role in what happens next.

Meanwhile, projects like PlutoChain could solve real problems in blockchain. Its Layer-2 solution could reduce Bitcoin’s transaction times from 10 minutes to only 2 seconds and add smart contracts to its network.

With PlutoChain, Bitcoin’s future might look faster, smarter, and more inclusive.

Please keep in mind that this article is not financial advice. All crypto tokens are volatile, and trading involves risk. Always do your own research and consult a qualified expert before joining any crypto venture. Mention of any tokens in this article does not guarantee future performance. Statements regarding the future carry risks and are not assured to be updated.

This article is sponsored content. All information is provided by the sponsor and Brave New Coin (BNC) does not endorse or assume responsibility for the content presented, which is not part of BNC’s editorial. Investing in crypto assets involves significant risk, including the potential loss of principal, and readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own due diligence before engaging with any company or product mentioned. Brave New Coin disclaims any liability for any damages or losses arising from reliance on the content provided in this article.

XRP has attracted significant new attention among retail investors due to bullish trends, rising market interest, and the Trump factor. 

This year’s XRP price surge was fueled by massive accumulation from wallets holding 1M-10M XRP, which now own 37% more coins than two months ago. According to Santiments, these wallets have added around $3.8B in XRP since November 12, 2024.

XRP Whale Transactions on the rise. Source: Santiments

Despite XRP’s 6% decline in the last 24 hours, it is now close to its all-time high of $3.40, which was achieved seven years ago, according to Brave New Coin’s XRP Liquid Index.

Recent growth has exceeded 300% since late 2024, and market indicators suggest further increases are likely. Analyst Martinez points to an XRP price prediction of $10 if the current buying trend continues.

XRP is down today following the release of Trump’s meme coin. Brave New Coin’s XRP Liquid Index. 

Martinez also emphasizes a breakout from a bull pennant pattern, a strong bullish signal in technical analysis. Combined with substantial whale investments, these factors position XRP for a possible threefold increase in 2025.

XRP Surges 156% Against Ethereum — More to Come?

XRP is gaining traction, while Ethereum is losing appeal among certain investors. Crypto analyst Legacy emphasized a 156% surge in the XRP/ETH ratio since suggesting Ethereum-to-XRP conversions. Legacy described Ethereum as overvalued and credited XRP’s rise to its $rUSD stablecoin, the forthcoming XRP ETF, and Ripple’s strategic market initiatives.

Source: Legacy 

Significant growth in XRP’s future open interest supports this trend. Data from Coinglass indicates a 45% increase in open interest since the week began, reaching an unprecedented $7.6 billion. This surge reflects rising expectations for substantial price movements.

Source: CoinGlass

Legacy’s insights have intensified speculation about XRP overtaking Ethereum. He predicts that XRP’s robust market performance, coupled with strategic partnerships, could drive a further 200% rally against Ethereum in the near term.

Solana’s $70B Volume Milestone — What It Means

XRP isn’t the only cryptocurrency turning heads. Solana, trading at $240, has caught the attention of analysts due to its potential for further growth. Martinez points to the Tom DeMark Sequential indicator, which signals a possible bullish trend reversal for Solana. He forecasts that the cryptocurrency could climb as high as $220 in the short term, a very strong Solana price prediction.

A buy signal on the Solana chart. Source: Ali Martinez

Solana’s ecosystem has thrived, with its decentralized exchange (DEX) network achieving record milestones. According to DeFiLlama, Solana’s monthly trading volumes soared to $70 billion, with last week recording a 27 billion surge in volume. Raydium emerged as a key player, accounting for 63% of Solana’s weekly volume and processing over $780 billion in November alone.

Source: DefiLlama

With active addresses on Solana’s network climbing to 25 million, the platform’s adoption is surging. This significant surge, bolstered by increased adoption and strong network metrics, could push Solana’s price to hit $300 in the coming months.

Can Pepe Break $0.0000221 Resistance Again?

Pepe (PEPE), a meme coin that gained over 22% in December, is also in the spotlight. Despite challenges in breaking past the $0.0000221 resistance level, analysts remain optimistic about its potential. A crypto analyst named Bullish Traders recently shared a bullish outlook for Pepe, stating:

“Clear Bullish Flag Formed At The Chart And The Price Bounced From 0.017$ Support Area Twice As a Double Bottom And Wave C PRZ, Expect a New Bullish Move From Here And Breakout a Trend Line Toward a 0.0235$ And 0.0331$ Soon”

At the time of writing, PEPE was trading at $0.0000187, marking a 5.66% decline in the last 24 hours. Analysts project that the meme coin could rise to $0.000033 soon as the token has tested the 0.000017 support level twice recently.

Well, there you go. As the market continues to digest the circumstances surrounding President Trump’s meme coin release during Friday night’s Crypto Ball, smart traders know the alpha remains with XRP, Solana, and Pepe. Act accordingly.

Crypto market analyst Ali Martinez sets a two-digit XRP price target, questioning why XRP is bigger than BlackRock if market cap actually matters.

In his latest analysis, the market watcher predicted a potential surge to $15. He based his assessment on the breakout of a symmetrical triangle pattern visible on the monthly chart. Such a move typically signals bullish momentum. 

Several analysts called attention to this pattern last year, especially when XRP remained traded for $0.50. Data from the chart shows that XRP slipped into the symmetrical triangle pattern when it collapsed from the $3.8 all-time high in January 2018.

Within this structure, XRP witnessed a years-long consolidation. An attempt to breakout occurred in April 2021, but XRP faced resistance at the $2 mark. Interestingly, its latest rally from November 2024 has now triggered a successful breakout from the symmetrical triangle.

Martinez believes this breakout could push XRP to $15, a 5-fold increase from current levels. Notably, XRP recently retested the resistance at $3.4 just days ago after moving beyond $3 for the first time in seven years. This latest strong momentum bolstered Martinez’s bullish outlook.

Martinez Responds to Criticisms

Not all analysts share Martinez’s optimism. Crypto proponent Tribal Trader questioned the feasibility of the $15 prediction. Tribal Trader accused Martinez of receiving incentives from “XRP” and not disclosing them.

He raised concerns about XRP’s market cap requirements to achieve such a price. Essentially, his argument suggested that reaching $15 would require an extraordinary market cap, which he thinks might be unfeasible.

For context, at a price of $15, XRP’s market cap would balloon to $862.5 billion, nearly double Ethereum’s current valuation. In response, Martinez dismissed the concerns, pointing out that XRP already has a higher market cap than BlackRock. 

If market cap matters why is XRP’s market cap bigger than BlackRock’s market cap?

— Ali (@ali_charts) January 16, 2025

He argued that if market cap were a limiting factor, XRP surpassing BlackRock—a global financial giant—wouldn’t have occurred. Notably, BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, has a market cap of $155 billion despite managing $11.6 trillion in assets. XRP’s current market cap, at $180 billion, already surpasses BlackRock’s.

A History of XRP Predictions  

It bears mentioning that Martinez has been vocal about his bullish stance on XRP in recent months. In November 2024, as XRP reclaimed $1 for the first time in three years, he suggested that the resignation of SEC Chair Gary Gensler could be bullish for the altcoin.

‘@GaryGensler leaving the @SECGov is the best thing that could happen to @Ripple. Now, $XRP targets $2! https://t.co/YEDiZtrnB1 pic.twitter.com/LLE4n0MC8z

— Ali (@ali_charts) November 21, 2024

At the time, Martinez forecasted XRP would hit $2 soon after breaching the $1 level. Interestingly, this forecast materialized a week later, with XRP eventually breaking above the $2 mark on Dec. 1, 2024.

Following this, Martinez identified $4 as the next target. So far, XRP appears to be moving closer to this level, having recently crossed the $3 psychological level. Meanwhile, his latest analysis, based on the symmetrical triangle breakout, projects an ultimate target of $15.

XRP, the payments-focused cryptocurrency, has been making waves in the crypto market with an impressive rally, climbing over 600% since November and hitting a high of $3.40—its strongest performance since 2017.

As the third-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, XRP has demonstrated remarkable resilience despite broader market volatility. Analysts and industry experts are optimistic about its future trajectory, citing technical indicators and growing investor interest as key drivers.

XRP Rallies Amid Bullish Indicators

According to a recent analysis, XRP is ready for a big move to the upside. For example, independent market analyst LbiDefi pointed out that XRP’s RSI has bounced off the pivotal 50, a move often seen as the first sign of a bullish trend. Besides, the cryptocurrency has reclaimed its daily moving average ribbon, which could indicate very strong support for upward price action.

Key indicators suggest a potential bullish rally ahead for XRP. Source:LbiDefi via X

Also, another key indicator, the On-Balance Volume, has broken out to further reinforce the bullish view. “The technical charts for XRP look exceptionally promising,” LbiDefi stated.

Analysts forecast XRP could climb to new record highs of $10.22 and $18.22 in the near future. Source:LbiDefi via X

Adding to the optimism, analyst Dark Defender identified Fibonacci levels aligning with Elliott Wave patterns, reminiscent of XRP’s historic rally in 2017. Dark Defender predicts that XRP could achieve new all-time highs of $10.22 and $18.22 in the near term, marking significant growth from its current levels.

XRP Tops Coinbase Trading Volume

XRP has also become the most traded cryptocurrency on Coinbase and has even outperformed BTC and ETH trading volumes. It has been speculated that U.S. investor interest in XRP is for several reasons, which include the possible greenlighting of a spot XRP ETF. The growing interest has seen XRP outpace Bitcoin in Google search trends for the first time.

XRP overtakes Bitcoin in trading volume on Coinbase amid rising interest from U.S. investors. Source:Phil Endablank via X

XRP/USD comprised 25% of Coinbase’s 24-hour trading volume, which came in at $1.65 billion as of recent data. The cryptocurrency is up over 600% since November, to 3.40$, a high not seen since 2017. According to analysts, increased adoption and expectations of regulatory clarity in the United States have contributed to XRP’s rally.

Ripple’s Expanding Influence and Adoption

Ripple, the blockchain company behind the cryptocurrency XRP, is finding its way to positions of influence on every continent. CEO Brad Garlinghouse recently spoke at the Crypto Finance Conference in St. Moritz about the place of XRP within digital assets, enabling a better financial future. He explained how XRP had a bright prospect of becoming an excellent strategic reserve asset, in particular when adoption on the institutional level goes strong.

CEO Brad Garlinghouse recently addressed XRP’s role in digital assets at the Crypto Finance Conference in St. Moritz. Source:Brad Garlinghouse via X

Ripple has also strengthened its foothold in decentralized finance (DeFi) through a partnership with Chainlink. The collaboration integrates Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin with DeFi platforms on Ethereum, offering innovative trading and lending solutions.

Moreover, Ripple’s XRP Ledger (XRPL) is set to be adopted by all banks in Japan by 2025, a move spearheaded by SBI CEO Yoshitaka Kitao. This initiative aims to streamline cross-border payments and currency conversions, reinforcing XRP’s utility in international finance.

Challenges and Market Outlook

Still, XRP struggles with its many problems, most of which entail the ongoing battle with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. On January 15th, the same SEC filed an appeal opposing a federal court’s ruling that said XRP was sold to retail investors and thus not part of an unregistered securities offering.

Ripple (XRP) price chart. Source:XRP Liquid Index (XRPLX) via Brave New Coin

However, Ripple’s recent philanthropic efforts, including a $100,000 XRP donation to support California wildfire relief, have shown that the company is committed to social impact as much as financial innovation.

Putting it together with impressive price action, strong technical indicators, and increasing adoption, XRP stands to be among the leading contenders in the cryptocurrency market. With analysts predicting new all-time highs, the development of Ripple further into the ecosystem globally, furthered demand in the U.S., and more clarification in regulation, the role of XRP can only get solidified in the emerging digital economy.