When weighing the two major names in the crypto field like XRP and Ether (ETH), the question arises: Will XRP reach $10 first, or will Ethereum surpass the $10,000 threshold first? Although both of these coins have a strong position in the digital money space, each has a distinct path in developing value and practical application. This article will delve into analyses from advanced artificial intelligence solutions such as ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, and Grok, to clarify which coin is likely to reach its desired value target first.
Looking back at the history of value, it can be seen that ETH has come closer to its goal, with a peak approaching $5,000 in 2021. In contrast, XRP has never exceeded the $3.4 mark, the highest price reached in January 2018. Currently, XRP still faces numerous challenges if it wants to reach $10, with forecasts that this milestone may only occur in 2025. Although the gap between the two coins is not too large, it is noteworthy that both need to grow about 300% from their current prices, a significant figure in the volatile cryptocurrency market.
Ethereum: The reason leading the race
In the debate over which coin will reach a higher price milestone first, AI solutions unanimously agree that Ethereum has winning potential. Important factors such as the strong development of the ecosystem, continuous network upgrades, acceptance from large institutions, and increasing demand for RWA tokens all create solid momentum for ETH, helping this coin maintain its leading position.
ChatGPT notes that Ethereum has a clear advantage in the institutional segment, especially as more and more investment organizations shift towards ETH as a strategic reserve asset. Ethereum not only attracts attention from large investors but also from investment funds, with some large institutions starting to sell BTC to buy ETH. This has created positive demand pressure on Ethereum's value, further reinforcing its ability to achieve the $10,000 target.
Gemini also shares this view, stating that Ethereum has a clear opportunity to surpass $10,000 in the medium term. The Ethereum ecosystem has been built robustly, with continuous technological advancements taking place, particularly the impact from spot ETF funds. This is seen as a key factor in helping Ethereum achieve this value target. Although a price increase of 300% is needed, this figure is still lower than the required increase for XRP, making ETH a more promising candidate in this race.
Stablecoin – The key to Ethereum's growth
One key factor that could drive Ethereum's growth is the rise of stablecoins.
Maria Shen, CEO of Electric Capital, pointed out that "Stablecoins are helping the dollar spread faster than any financial technology in history," while emphasizing that "Ethereum is becoming the financial backbone," based on a research report published on the occasion of Ethereum's 10th anniversary. The strong development of stablecoins is creating a significant momentum for Ethereum, as for the first time in history, anyone in the world can hold US dollars through stablecoins. This not only drives demand for the dollar but also brings significant benefits to Ethereum, as it is the primary platform supporting these stablecoins.
Despite much debate about "de-dollarization," the reality is that demand for US dollars globally is still booming, especially through stablecoins. According to current figures, the market capitalization of stablecoins has exceeded $260 billion, opening up great opportunities for billions of people, especially in emerging markets, to access US dollars more easily. Research also indicates that over 4 billion people and millions of businesses worldwide are looking for ways to access dollars through stablecoins.
However, stablecoin holders in emerging markets not only need digital money. They also require investment opportunities, returns, and comprehensive financial services. Meanwhile, traditional financial services, such as banking, cannot meet this huge demand due to regulatory, financial, infrastructure, and geographical barriers.
Ethereum, with its global scalability, organizational-level security, and lack of government interference, is in a unique position to become the global financial platform for this digital dollar economy. Ethereum is ready to take on this role, with a complete financial infrastructure and the ability to connect markets around the world.
Ethereum is currently the main payment platform in the DeFi ecosystem, supporting the largest on-chain economy with over $140 billion in stablecoins and tokenized real assets. Ethereum also has over $60 billion in DeFi transactions, reinforcing its role in the global digital economy.
With the increasing expansion of stablecoins, a snowball effect will be created, where the demand for ETH increases, as more ETH is needed as collateral for DeFi and real financial transactions. As more ETH is staked, network security will be enhanced and the supply of ETH will decrease, creating a positive impact on the value of this coin. At the same time, the influx of capital from financial institutions will continue to flow into Ethereum due to regulatory clarity and its strong integration capability.
Currently, there is no real competitor that can threaten Ethereum's position. Bitcoin, although the largest cryptocurrency by market value, lacks programmability and cannot be applied as a flexible financial platform. Other blockchains also cannot compete with Ethereum in terms of security, decentralization, and institutional credibility.
Traditional finance currently, with geographical and regulatory restrictions, also cannot meet the global demand unlocked by stablecoins. Anyone who has ever tried to open a bank account in a country without a physical address will understand this difference.
As Maria Shen concluded:
"We have placed our trust in programmable money since 2018. When founded, we built the organizational argument for Bitcoin, and now we are doing the same for Ethereum."
XRP: The challenging but not impossible path
Although AI solutions are leaning towards ETH in the value race, XRP still has opportunities to reach the $10 target. However, this path is not easy and depends on several key factors that Ripple, the company behind XRP, can control.
According to Grok, XRP can definitely reach the $10 mark if Ripple continues to push its expansion strategy through strategic partnerships and large acquisitions. A typical example is Ripple's investment of over $1.2 billion to acquire the brokerage company Hidden Road in early 2025. This is an important move that demonstrates Ripple's commitment to expanding XRP's influence and building a stronger ecosystem.
Additionally, AI solutions also emphasize that if a spot XRP ETF is approved in the US, the door will be wide open for large financial institutions to invest in XRP. This will not only bring a rich financial resource but also create a significant increase in demand and value of this coin.
However, as Gemini has warned, the road to $10 for XRP still faces many challenges, especially regarding regulations and widespread acceptance from financial institutions in using XRP for cross-border transactions. This is one of the biggest barriers that XRP faces, especially considering the fact that the use of XRP in traditional finance is still quite limited.
This also raises a major concern: although XRP has been touted as the ideal tool for cross-border payments, actual adoption remains quite modest. Partnerships and pilot programs have not translated into widespread acceptance from large financial institutions, raising questions about XRP's actual ability to change the global financial system.
One notable factor causing XRP to struggle in breaking out is Ripple's excessive centralized control over the token supply. Although the entire 100 billion XRP tokens have been mined beforehand, around 42% of them still lie in Ripple's hands, creating enormous power over the liquidity and value of XRP. This makes some investors concerned that XRP's value could be affected by Ripple's decisions regarding token issuance, causing instability and undermining trust within the community.
Overall, while XRP is not entirely hopeless, it is clear that Ethereum is currently in a stronger position in the race to achieve higher price milestones. With the robust development of the ecosystem, widespread adoption from large institutions, and the rise of stablecoins, Ethereum has a higher potential to reach $10,000 before XRP. Conversely, XRP will need a strong push from external factors, such as changes in regulations and the expansion of practical applications, to truly achieve its desired price level.
The development of Ethereum as a decentralized financial platform is gradually affirming its role in shaping the future of the digital economy. Technological advancements, along with widespread adoption in areas such as DeFi, NFTs, and stablecoins, make Ethereum an indispensable factor in the global cryptocurrency ecosystem.
Meanwhile, XRP, if it cannot overcome current structural issues – such as centralized control and lack of large acceptance from traditional financial institutions – will struggle to break out and may continue to remain in a "sideways" state, unable to break its limits in the near term.