XRP Emerges as the Victor In the 12 months through, XRP has surged approximately 277 % against Bitcoin, a striking leap compared to BTC’s solid yet sober 88 % gain. Calling out this development, market analyst Kyle Chasse pointed out , “ Ripple is about to change everything. XRP has outperformed Bitcoin by triple digits … without a US ETF, treasury adoption, or native DeFi yield.” Interestingly, while BTC rode a wave of institutional adoption backed by exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and corporate treasury allocations, XRP delivered triple‑digit gains without a U.S. spot ETF, DeFi protocols, or major treasury accumulation. Furthermore, the XRP/BTC ratio climbed from roughly 0.00000902 to about 0.0000303, signaling XRP’s dominance in relative performance. In other words, every XRP held meant significantly more Bitcoin-year growth, a dramatic shift in value perception. So, why has XRP elbowed Bitcoin in the past year despite the latter holding significant advantages? Well, intensified whale activity and macro-regulatory tailwinds have favored the 3rd-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization. For instance, whales holding over 1 million XRP bought roughly 100 million coins in days while those with over 100 million amassed about 1.45 billion XRP. Combined with institutional inflows, such as Teucrium’s XXRP ETF gathering over $248 million and $235 million daily futures volumes, this indicates a deep, committed investment base. Furthermore, the U.S. political climate has bolstered XRP’s narrative. A new Trump-era strategy includes a proposed federal “digital asset stockpile” with XRP explicitly named alongside Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and Cardano. Therefore, XRP’s 277 % outperformance of BTC reflects a convergence of forces, such as technical breakouts, rising institutional demand, regulatory momentum, and ecosystem growth. With spot‑ETF approvals imminent, on‑chain strength peaking, and macroeconomic backdrop improving, XRP may be entering a sustained altcoin bull phase, distinguishing it from Bitcoin’s evolving narrative. Ripple CEO Hails GENIUS Act Win Ripple CEO Garlinghouse took to X, formerly Twitter, to share photos from a historic moment where President Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law, calling it a landmark win for crypto and the XRP community. Garlinghouse shared White House photos as the Ripple team witnessed President Trump sign the newly approved GENIUS Act. Calling it a historic moment for crypto, the Ripple CEO praised the law for delivering clear, pro-innovation regulation for the $250B stablecoin market, signaling a major shift from the nation’s traditionally cautious crypto approach. What the Passage of the GENIUS Act Means for XRP While the primary focus of the GENIUS Act is on stablecoins, industry experts see ripple effectsfor various cryptocurrencies, such as XRP. For instance, the immediate market response for XRP was strong following its passage. XRP soared to the $3.50 level with this rally reflecting renewed confidence in crypto regulation since the GENIUS Act provides the much‐needed clarity and signals a pro‐crypto U.S. stance. XRP’s parabolic structure continues to play out with the psychological price of $4.50 being in the picture. Additionally, the law paves the regulatory path for stablecoins like Ripple’s RLUSD. This new law mandates full reserve backing, audited reserves, and issuer licensing fully aligning with RLUSD’s design. Ripple has already applied for a national trust charter, pursued a Federal Reserve master account, and partnered with BNY Mellon for reserve custody. Analysts note that RLUSD can gain a first-mover advantage in a regulated stablecoin market. XRP, in this framework, benefits as the frictionless liquidity and settlement tool for RLUSD transactions. Conclusion The GENIUS Act doesn’t directly regulate XRP, but it clears the way for Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin. By aligning regulatory infrastructure, reinforcing XRP's bridge utility, and reducing SEC influence, the bill strengthens XRP’s role in regulated finance, explaining why Garlinghouse applauds the GENIUS Act passage. Meanwhile, XRP’s 277% gain vs BTC over the past year signals a radical shift because what began as speculative momentum is evolving into recognition of institutional adoption, on-chain utility, and regulatory legitimacy. With ETF entry points, whale accumulation, and bullish technical patterns converging, XRP is increasingly being perceived not just as an altcoin, but as a credible contender in the digital-asset space.
