A storm is brewing in the cryptocurrency market, but it's happening where you least expect it! While attention often focuses on Bitcoin and Ethereum, XRP is quietly positioning itself for a notable move. With its market cap currently at $133 billion - just shy of Tether's $148 billion - XRP may soon reclaim a spot among the top three cryptocurrencies.
But unlike USDT, which has growth dependent on increased issuance, the rise of XRP is being driven by actual price increases. There is something different about its current setup and if you have been watching closely, the signs are hard to ignore.
XRP versus Tether: The same number, but the story is very different
This is why the possibility of this reversal is interesting – USDT is a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar. Its value does not change and its market capitalization only increases when more tokens are issued. In summary: it expands through minting.
What about the story of XRP? Completely different. It is gaining an advantage in a hard way – through price increase. Just in the past week, XRP has risen by 8.82% while Bitcoin and Ethereum have fluctuated much less than it.
Digging a little deeper and the contrast becomes clearer. The trading volume of XRP is massive – over $3 billion – with a balanced buy/sell ratio (58% to 42%). Meanwhile, USDT is seeing more sell orders than buy orders, with 88% of trades in 24 hours trending down.
That kind of sentiment does not necessarily reflect strength.
Technical setup: Bulls are back in control
For the first time in months, XRP is trading above the 50, 100, and 200-day EMA; a sign of serious bullish momentum. And this comes right after XRP escaped a long-standing downtrend channel that had restrained its growth for years.
Currently, XRP is holding steady at $2.28, with major support near $2.22 thanks to the 100-day EMA. If it maintains this pace, we could see it test the $2.50–$3.00 range.
This will be a significant price milestone but is likely to help this coin's market capitalization surpass Tether.
Why this reversal is truly important
So, let's take a step back. XRP surpassing Tether is not just a numbers game but is genuinely symbolic. After years of overcoming regulatory hurdles and market instability, XRP is once again being recognized for its real utility – fast, cost-effective cross-border payments – not just the legal case with the SEC.
With 58.44 billion tokens in circulation, it is increasing thanks to actual demand rather than supply. Just that alone makes it stand out in a market flooded with hype.
So, while Bitcoin consolidates around $95,000 and Ethereum safely holds near $1,835, XRP is rising. And if the current market sentiment remains a bit risky, that number 3 position may soon have a new owner.
