XRP lags Bitcoin and Ether as supply and demand weigh

Published: 2026-10-16 06:00:00 |

XRP trades near $1.33, about 62.5% below its January 2018 peak of $3.55, despite briefly reaching $3.66 in July 2025. By comparison, Bitcoin is up 314% from its December 2017 peak, while Ether has gained 66%. XRP’s long-term underperformance reflects both token supply growth and weaker demand. Nansen analyst Nicolai Sondergaard said XRP’s circulating supply rose 63%, from 38.7 billion in 2017 to 63.1 billion, while its total market value fell about 3%. XRP investment funds have attracted $1.8 billion since launching nearly a year ago, far less than Bitcoin and Ether funds. Nansen data also shows XRP spot trading volume down 53.5%, perpetual futures volume down 44% and active addresses down 10.7%. Analysts cite Ripple’s focus on payments and products such as RLUSD, limited exposure to popular sectors including DeFi, and years of uncertainty from the SEC case, which concluded in August 2025. Traders may monitor XRP’s performance against Bitcoin, fund flows and token distribution from Ripple’s escrow to gauge whether demand is improving.

Bearish

The report is bearish for XRP specifically, rather than the wider crypto market. Its price remains far below its 2018 peak, while circulating supply has risen 63% and market activity has weakened: spot volume is down 53.5%, perpetual futures volume 44%, and active addresses 10.7%. XRP funds’ $1.8 billion in inflows also point to comparatively modest institutional demand. These indicators could encourage short-term traders to sell rallies or keep XRP underperforming BTC and ETH, particularly if fund flows remain weak. The history of the SEC case helps explain why XRP missed part of the 2021 rally, but the dispute ended in August 2025 and has not prevented subsequent losses. That suggests regulatory resolution alone may not be enough to restore demand. Longer term, slower token distribution, stronger fund inflows and renewed network use could improve the outlook. Traders can watch XRP/BTC, escrow-related supply releases, trading volume and active addresses for signs of a change in trend. The article does not, by itself, signal a broad threat to market stability.