XRP Surpasses USDT Securing Third Place with a $141B Market Cap

XRP has regained its position above Tether (USDT), securing the third spot in cryptocurrency market capitalization according to data from Cryptonews.com.

With a market cap of $141.1 billion, XRP has outpaced Tether’s $137.1 billion, reflecting its growing momentum in the cryptocurrency market.

Factors Driving XRP’s Surge

XRP’s recent climb can be traced to increased whale activity and strategic decisions by Ripple, its parent company.

Ripple unlocked 500 million XRP from escrow, boosting market liquidity.

🔓 🔓 🔓 🔓 🔓 🔓 🔓 🔓 🔓 🔓 500,000,000 #XRP (1,070,455,137 USD) unlocked from escrow at unknown wallethttps://t.co/3GCjVkzkpQ

— Whale Alert (@whale_alert) January 1, 2025

Trading activity on South Korea’s Upbit exchange contributed to the surge, with XRP’s trading volume exceeding $1.3 billion.

These developments have triggered excitement among investors and analysts alike, fueling speculation about the token’s potential for even more gains.

Analyst Predictions and Market Potential

Crypto analysts remain optimistic about XRP’s trajectory, with Armando Pantoja predicting that XRP could reach a price range of $8 to $20 during the current market cycle.

I'm predicting $XRP at $8-20 this cycle, but to dismiss it hitting $59.64 or even $100 eventually is short-sighted and overlooks the transformative potential of #XRP. pic.twitter.com/JSTSkfmyiM

— Armando Pantoja (@_TallGuyTycoon) December 24, 2024

Pantoja attributes this potential growth to XRP’s adoption for cross-border payments, highlighting its faster transaction times and lower fees compared to traditional systems.

Unlike conventional financial channels, which often involve high fees and slow transaction speeds, XRP facilitates instant and cost-effective global money transfers.

This efficiency has made it an appealing option for both retail and institutional investors.

Ripple Introduces RLUSD Stablecoin

Ripple recently introduced RLUSD, a new stablecoin designed to enhance the network’s utility.

With RLUSD, Ripple facilitates low-cost transactions, leveraging its network’s near-zero fees.

💰 @Ripple is launching its $RLUSD stablecoin on December 17, setting new standards for stablecoin compliance and transparency in the crypto space! #Ripple #RLUSDhttps://t.co/CXvZBrYcd6

— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) December 16, 2024

This addition adds another layer of functionality to the XRP ecosystem, reinforcing its position in the crypto industry.

At $141.1 billion in market cap, XRP continues to solidify its presence, attracting attention from global traders and investors.

With growing adoption and technical innovations, XRP’s momentum positions it as a strong contender in the cryptocurrency space.