XRP Traders Still Down 62% From 2018 Peak as Bitcoin and Ethereum Surge
XRP lags behind peers years after crypto boom
XRP is trading around $1.33, roughly 62.5% below its January 2018 peak of $3.55, according to CoinDesk. An investor who bought at the top of the 2017 crypto cycle is still underwater nearly nine years later. The token did briefly break its previous record, reaching $3.66 in July 2025, before falling back.
Meanwhile, most other major cryptocurrencies have far surpassed their 2017 highs. Bitcoin climbed 314% from its December 2017 peak of $19,804. Ether rose 66%. Dogecoin gained 322%. BNB surged about 2,800%. Even Tron, which sits slightly below its own peak, is down only about 4%.
Key numbers at a glance
- XRP: $1.33, down 62.5% from its January 2018 peak
- Bitcoin: up 314% from its December 2017 high
- Ether: up 66% from its 2017 peak
- Dogecoin: up 322% from its January 2018 high
- BNB: up approximately 2,800%
- Circulating XRP supply: 63.1 billion, up 63% from 38.7 billion in 2017
Why XRP has underperformed
Analysts point to several factors. The biggest is supply. The circulating supply of XRP grew 63% from 38.7 billion in 2017 to 63.1 billion today, while the token's total market value fell only about 3%, said Nicolai Sondergaard, a senior research analyst at analytics firm Nansen. More coins in circulation means each token represents a smaller share of the overall value.
Oliver Carding, head of marketing at institutional asset manager Tesseract Group, noted that if you measure XRP by total market value rather than price, it has recovered. But the sheer increase in supply weighs on the per-token price.
Other headwinds include weak demand from U.S.-listed exchange-traded funds, or ETFs — investment funds that allow people to gain exposure to crypto through traditional brokerage accounts. Bitcoin and ether ETFs have attracted billions, but XRP ETFs have seen muted interest, said Paul Howard of market-making firm Wincent.
The article also cites Ripple's narrow focus on payments, XRP's limited involvement in popular crypto sectors like decentralized finance, and a years-long regulatory dispute with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as additional reasons for sluggish demand.
What is confirmed
XRP's price and supply figures are confirmed from CoinDesk's reporting. Comparative performance data for Bitcoin, Ether, Dogecoin, BNB, and Tron is also drawn directly from the article. Analyst quotes from Nansen and Tesseract are presented as reported statements.
What is still unclear
The article does not provide a definitive timeline for when or if XRP might reclaim its 2018 peak. The impact of the SEC case on XRP's price trajectory is mentioned but not quantified.
Why this matters for crypto investors
The contrast between XRP and other major tokens illustrates that holding crypto does not guarantee gains. Supply dynamics, regulatory risk, and sector exposure all play a role in how individual tokens perform over time.
Sources
Newisty Editorial Team covers technology, cryptocurrency, digital products, online platforms, developer tools and the wider digital economy. Our content is researched from official sources, company announcements, public documentation, market data and other primary or reputable sources. Articles are reviewed and edited before publication for clarity, accuracy and useful context.