|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Could XRP ever surpass Bitcoin’s market cap? According to Ripple CTO David Schwartz, yes — but not the way most people imagine. Speaking on an X Space this week, Schwartz laid out a scenario where XRP “flips” Bitcoin not through a crypto market crash, but through XRP simply growing faster in a market that’s expanding for everyone.
Growth, Not Collapse
Asked directly whether he believes XRP could overtake Bitcoin, Schwartz didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, I do,” he said, before quickly clarifying the mechanics behind that view. In his framing, the flip wouldn’t come from Bitcoin losing value — it would come from XRP simply outpacing it. He described a broader environment where digital assets across the board see major gains, with the XRP Ledger capturing an outsized share of that growth thanks to its speed and functionality compared to Bitcoin’s network. In short: a rising tide that lifts XRP considerably more than it lifts Bitcoin.
The Math Behind The Scenario
Getting there would require an enormous move. Bitcoin currently sits around $78,200 with a market cap near $1.56 trillion, while XRP trades near $1.38 with a market cap of roughly $86.76 billion — a gap of about 18 times in Bitcoin’s favor. For XRP to catch up, both assets would likely need to keep climbing, with XRP’s market cap needing to reach something in the neighborhood of $3 trillion.
Based on XRP’s circulating supply of about 62.74 billion tokens, that kind of valuation would put the token near $49 to $50 — an increase of roughly 3,470% from current prices. Bitcoin, by contrast, would only need to roughly double its market cap to hit that same $3 trillion mark, a level not far from its previous all-time high near $2.5 trillion. In price terms, that’s a move to around $150,000 for Bitcoin, compared to XRP’s far steeper climb from under $1.40 to near $50.
Also Read: Treasury Buybacks, Fed Bets, and Bitcoin’s Path to $100K: What’s Really Driving This Rally
A Long Road, By Schwartz’s Own Framing
Schwartz didn’t attach a timeline or specific price target to his comments, and he was careful to frame this as one possible outcome rather than a prediction of what will happen. His argument rests entirely on relative growth rates, not on any weakness in Bitcoin. Even in the scenario he describes, Bitcoin would still be growing substantially — just not as fast as XRP.
Schwartz’s comments add to a long-running debate among XRP supporters about whether the token can meaningfully challenge Bitcoin’s dominance. The numbers show just how wide that gap remains: XRP would need to climb nearly 35-fold while Bitcoin merely doubles for the two to meet in the middle. It’s a scenario Schwartz clearly sees as plausible in a booming market — but by his own account, not one with a clear timeline attached.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The author’s views are personal and may not reflect the views of Chain Affairs. Before making any investment decisions, you should always conduct your own research. Chain Affairs is not responsible for any financial losses.
I’m your translator between the financial Old World and the new frontier of crypto. After a career demystifying economics and markets, I enjoy elucidating crypto – from investment risks to earth-shaking potential. Let’s explore!
