XRP or Ethereum: Which Is the Smarter Buy for the Next 5 Years? - 24/7 Wall St.
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The Crypto Desk
By Sam Daodu Published November 1, 2026, 7:41pm ET · 3 min read
XRP vs. Ethereum: A 5-Year Comparison
Both XRP and Ethereum have experienced significant drops in the past month, with XRP gaining 9.9% since late 2021 while Ethereum dropped a staggering 50.7%. Despite trading below their record highs, XRP outperforms Ethereum in a five-year perspective.
Quick Read
- XRP ETFs have seen modest inflows, while Ethereum ETFs bled $432 million in one week across 11 days of outflows.
- Ethereum has a higher chance of recovering to its 2025 peak by 2031, but XRP presents greater potential for gains.
XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) vs. Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH)
XRP is currently priced at $1.25, down 16.5% in the last 30 days, leaving it 65.8% below its record high of $3.65 from July 17, 2025. Ethereum trades at $2,267, down 15.5%, 54.2% below its record of $4,946 from August 24, 2025.
To compare, let's look at their market capitalization:
- XRP: Approximately $79.2 billion
- Ethereum: Approximately $276.9 billion
In 2021, XRP's price was $1.29 with a market cap of $60.9 billion. Now, with a lower price, XRP's market cap has increased due to more coins in circulation.
Conclusion
While Ethereum may have a better chance of reaching its 2025 peak by 2031, XRP presents a more attractive potential for gains.