XRP vs. Shiba Inu: Can Ripple’s Payments Network Drive the Next Crypto Boom?

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After a strong surge following Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory and a solid start to 2025 despite regulatory uncertainties, most cryptocurrencies have hit a period of consolidation.

XRP (CRYPTO: XRP), the world’s fourth-largest cryptocurrency, has risen just 6.5% year-to-date as of November 18, underperforming the broader stock market. Meanwhile, Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: SHIB), the 24th-largest crypto, has tumbled 58% this year. Despite recent weakness, many investors remain confident that the crypto market will rebound, keeping long-term optimism alive. But which has better potential to generate massive gains—XRP or Shiba Inu?

For XRP, much of the “low-hanging fruit” has already been claimed. Under the Trump administration, new leadership at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) resolved Ripple’s long-standing legal disputes with its co-founders. Regulatory hurdles have been eased, spot-XRP ETFs are now approved and trading, and the U.S. has taken steps such as creating a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and a broader digital asset stockpile.

Now, XRP’s next challenge is adoption. Ripple aims to expand its network of banks and institutions using XRP for cross-border payments, bridging the gap between traditional finance and the crypto world. XRP is optimized for payments, capable of processing up to 1,500 transactions per second, giving it a competitive edge in speed and efficiency.

Ripple’s ecosystem includes the XRP token and its stablecoin, RLUSD, powering the Ripple Payments network. This platform enables clients to send instant payments, act as custodians for digital assets, and transact in stablecoins. Ripple also operates a multi-asset prime brokerage, providing institutional investors access to a broad range of financial instruments, including cryptocurrencies.

The critical question is whether Ripple Payments can achieve widespread adoption in global finance. Institutional confidence appears strong: Ripple recently raised $500 million in a funding round led by top-tier investors, including Fortress Investment Group, Citadel Securities affiliates, and Galaxy Digital, valuing the company at $40 billion. As Ripple expands its network, demand for XRP is likely to grow, positioning the token as a key player in the future of international payments.