XRP Surges Amid ETF Buzz But Faces Legal Uncertainty, While Bitcoin Stays Strong Above $100K with Bullish Momentum and Macro Tailwinds

As the crypto market continues to reclaim some of its lost ground, global investors are focusing particularly on the likes of Ripple (XRP) and Bitcoin (BTC) in recent weeks.

Rising amid fresh optimism over a possible spot exchange-traded fund (ETF), is the price of Ripple (XRP). The cryptocurrency is now up more than 100% in 2025 alone, with technical indicators suggesting more gains are in sight.

However, while the outlook for XRP is bright, it does come with some geo-political risk. But, on the whole, the case for investing in the coin in the back half of 2025 remains strong.

But is Ripple (XRP) or Bitcoin (BTC) the better buy today? Both cryptocurrencies have been making headlines recently, as investors search for the best digital assets to add to their portfolios.

Recently, we’ve seen several renowned crypto firms like Bitwise, 21Shares, and Grayscale file applications for spot ETFs for XRP. However, BlackRock (NYSE:) did not mention XRP in its statement regarding the recent meeting with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This is likely to have disappointed some investors, who had been hoping that the world’s largest asset manager would be applying for an XRP ETF.

Its absence from the list of seven digital assets also had a dampening effect on market optimism. This saw the price of XRP pull back to $2.50 at the time of writing from a seven-week high of $2.63 earlier this week.

Still, technical indicators suggest the broader trend remains positive. MACD histogram is still on the rise, while Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at about 65, a little lower than the overbought territory. Together, this suggests that buyers are still in control, although a brief period of XRP trading sideways can’t be ruled out either.

Crucially, the courtroom could be the key driver that continues to push investors into buying more of the coin in 2025. After the SEC recently agreed to lower the financial penalty imposed on Ripple and lift the ban on XRP institutional transactions, Judge Analisa Torres is now expected to approve the settlement.

If the judge does approve the settlement, then it will open the door for the regulator to quickly approve an ETF, Paving the way for an influx of new investors into the crypto.

Bitcoin price above $100K is a sign of its durability against an uncertain backdrop. While regulatory developments could restrict XRP’s move to the upside, BTC is still a top crypto to buy. Its reputation as a digital store of value continues to attract investors throughout 2025.

Recently, there has been a flurry of activity in the BTC sphere. A recent report by Nikkei stated that the US and China are nearing a trade deal, which could see tariffs on goods traded between the world’s largest economies suspended.

Bitcoin price is also fast approaching the closely-watched $100,000 level, amid a broader rally in the crypto market from the March lows. As the crypto market continues to recover from the 2024 crash, global investors are focusing particularly on the likes of Bitcoin and Ripple (XRP).

Bitcoin has now breached the $100,000 barrier and is fast approaching the $105,000 level, amid a flurry of institutional buying activity and macro tailwinds.

Moreover, the House of Representatives recently passed the Bitcoin Act, which will now be passed on to the Senate. If approved, the bill will authorize the US government to procure 1 million BTC over the next five years. This move is part of a broader strategy to diversify the government’s assets and invest in emerging technologies.

But as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. And with BTC already up more than 100% in 2025, some traders may feel the rally is due for a pause.

However, technical indicators suggest that the broader trend remains firmly positive. MACD is still latent above the signal line, which is a sign of bullish momentum, which is substantiated by the RSI at 68.

Ultimately, both XRP and Bitcoin present interesting cases for investors at the time of writing. However, BTC appears to be a stronger pick for the back half of 2025.

An exciting tendency of its price to reclaim the $100,000 level, combined with stellar institutional interest and favorable macro developments present it with a more dependable long-term trajectory.

XRP’s recent price increase is promising, but the potential for ETF approval is still limited due to the outstanding legal barriers. This puts more pressure on investors to quickly capitalize on any bullish developments.

Therefore, XRP may currently present a higher risk relative to the potential rewards. At present, BTC has more attractive risk-return characteristics, making it a better pick than XRP for investors seeking lucrative profits in 2025.