18.04.2025
Mirjan Hipolito
Cryptocurrency and stock expert
18.04.2025

Will XRP overtake Ethereum as new altcoin leader?

Will XRP overtake Ethereum as new altcoin leader? Can XRP overtake Ethereum and become the new leader among altcoins?

​Ethereum has been the flagship of altcoins for nearly a decade. However, significant changes could be on the horizon for the cryptocurrency arena in 2025. XRP has started to look much more successful and promising compared to Vitalik Buterin's project. But can it actually surpass Ethereum?

Ethereum - a problematic leader

Ethereum remains the dominant player in the altcoin market due to its smart contract ecosystem and its role as a pioneer in decentralized finance (DeFi). However, scalability issues and high transaction fees remain its major drawbacks. Despite the implementation of updates such as EIP-1559 and the transition to a Proof-of-Stake consensus, Ethereum still struggles with network congestion. During peak times, transaction fees can reach $200 per transaction, making the platform increasingly inconvenient for retail users and developers.

Ethereum's dominance in the market is rapidly declining, which raises concerns among investors and analysts. Crypto Rover recently pointed out that Ethereum’s market share is close to a historic low.

These issues are not going unnoticed: developers and large institutional players are starting to look for alternatives that offer faster and cheaper solutions. This is where XRP takes center stage.

XRP – stability and speed

XRP has been around for a while, but its potential may be underrated. While XRP is mainly associated with fast transactions and low fees, its primary advantage lies in solving scalability issues that continue to plague Ethereum.

One of the key reasons why XRP could replace Ethereum is its high performance. For example, XRP Ledger uses the Automated Market Maker (XRPL-AMM) mechanism, which is significantly more efficient than similar solutions built on Ethereum.

XRPL-AMM dramatically reduces price slippage, lowers impermanent losses, and improves synchronization between price points. Unlike Ethereum, where many AMMs suffer from high transaction costs and poor synchronization efficiency, XRP offers a solution that works quickly and efficiently.

Institutional appeal of XRP

XRP is actively attracting attention from major financial institutions, and a recent statement from Coinbase only confirms the growing interest. In its application to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for listing XRP futures contracts, the exchange emphasized its importance in international payments.

Coinbase described XRP as a digital asset that plays a key role in optimizing cross-border transfers, reducing transaction fees, and speeding up processing times.

The use of XRP as an intermediary currency through the On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) system allows real-time currency settlements, making it attractive to financial institutions and money transfer platforms looking to reduce costs and increase transaction speed.

These qualities make XRP not just a speculative asset but also a viable tool for global financial operations, giving it a significant edge in the market. XRP's appeal is further enhanced by its carbon-neutral nature, making it attractive to companies focused on sustainable development.

According to research and forecasts, including comments from analyst SMQKE, XRP could realistically compete with Ethereum for the lead among altcoins in 2025. The scalability and high transaction fee issues that Ethereum cannot solve give XRP a chance to take its place. Meanwhile, Ripple continues to develop XRPL, enhancing its functionality and attracting new clients. 

While Ethereum remains a key part of the smart contract ecosystem, the platform's technical issues open up opportunities for XRP. If Ripple continues to work on improving speed, reducing costs, and attracting institutional players, XRP could indeed secure the leadership position among altcoins.

Conclusion: Is a leadership change possible?

2025 could mark a significant turning point in the cryptocurrency market, when XRP might catch up to Ethereum or possibly even surpass it. XRP offers solutions to the issues that Ethereum struggles with, thanks to its speed, low fees, and efficient ecosystem. Time will tell whether XRP will take the lead and claim the top spot among altcoins.

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