While Bitcoin's price surge continues to grab headlines, a growing number of market watchers are shifting their attention to XRP

With BTC trading well above $100,000 and approaching a possible $200,000 ceiling, the room for explosive growth is narrowing

Bitcoin's price surge has been dominating headlines, but as the market shifts, attention is turning to XRP. One analyst argues that its upside potential may silently outshine the leading cryptocurrency.

While BTC, at $100,000, is closing in on a possible $200,000, leaving less room for pivots, XRP has more space to run, especially if current momentum holds and legal clouds begin to clear, according to crypto researcher Ripple Van Winkle.

"XRP at $2 has 3x to 5x written all over it," the analyst said, adding that $8-$12 is a realistic price range for the next major leg up in XRP.

By comparison, Bitcoin's projected 2x return feels modest, considering the asset's rapid ascent from lows around $15,000 in December 2020.

A potential settlement of the SEC lawsuit could remove one of the last major constraints on XRP, paving the way for broader institutional adoption of the asset.

This aligns with discussions around government reserves and enterprise use cases for XRP, known for its fast transaction speeds and low fees, even as Ripple Labs pursues acquisitions like Hidden Road and reportedly eyes stablecoin giant Circle.

In the meantime, geopolitical stress, such as the ongoing border tensions between India and Pakistan, could impact Bitcoin's sustainability at current levels.

However, XRP's fundamentals are drawing fresh capital into the asset, especially in crypto-friendly zones like Missouri, which recently advanced tax incentives tied to digital asset holdings.

This could lead some investors to rebalance their portfolios, with some opting for XRP over Bitcoin as the standout performer of this cycle.output: Bitcoin’s price has been making headlines as it continues to surge, closing in on the $100,000 mark and setting sights on a possible $200,000 ceiling. However, with BTC’s room for explosive growth narrowing, attention is shifting to another cryptocurrency that could be poised for significant upside — XRP.

While the market speculates on BTC's next move, one crypto researcher, known as Ripple Van Winkle, argues that XRP, still hovering around the $2.30 mark, has far more space to run, especially if current momentum holds and legal clouds begin to clear.

"XRP at $2 has 3x to 5x written all over it," the analyst said, adding that $8-$12 is a realistic price range for the next major leg up in XRP.

By comparison, Bitcoin's projected 2x return feels modest, considering the asset's rapid ascent from lows around $15,000 in December 2020.

A potential settlement of the SEC lawsuit could remove one of the last major constraints on XRP, paving the way for broader institutional adoption of the asset. This aligns with discussions around government reserves and enterprise use cases for XRP, known for its fast transaction speeds and low fees, even as Ripple Labs pursues acquisitions like Hidden Road and reportedly eyes stablecoin giant Circle.

In the meantime, persistent geopolitical stress, such as the ongoing border tensions between India and Pakistan, could impact Bitcoin's sustainability at current price levels.

However, XRP's fundamentals are drawing fresh capital into the asset, especially in crypto-friendly zones like Missouri, which recently advanced tax incentives tied to digital asset holdings.

This could lead some investors to rebalance their portfolios, with some opting for XRP over Bitcoin as the standout performer of this cycle.