"Don't be mistaken": $XRP is Bitcoin's biggest rival, claims an expert
A well-known voice in the cryptocurrency world has sparked controversy by stating that XRP could one day challenge Bitcoin's leadership. This is Charles Shrem, creator of the Blockchain Backer channel on YouTube. He has been optimistic about XRP for years. Now he openly claims that the altcoin poses a threat to Bitcoin. This assertion comes at a time when the altcoin is still lagging behind Bitcoin's recent surge.
According to the charts, XRP surged over 200% against Bitcoin between November 2024 and January 2025. It was a spectacular move. After that, the situation worsened. Since February 2025, XRP has lost about 30% against Bitcoin. Bitcoin, on the other hand, reached new all-time highs after February. The cryptocurrency mainly hovered around $2. That great swing shows how quickly fortunes can change in the cryptocurrency markets.
XRP still has a long way to go. It is trading at around $2.19 and has a market capitalization of $129.4 billion. Ethereum ranks second with $295 billion. The cryptocurrency would need a 135% increase to reach $5. To match Bitcoin's $2.125 trillion, the altcoin's price needs to rise by 1,620% to $36. In October, analyst Dark Defender claimed that XRP could reach $36. Nowadays, that prediction sounds bold.
