Altcoin King? XRP Price Rally Leads Top 10 Cryptos with 278.95% Gain in 6 Months

In a challenging year for the crypto ecosystem, XRP stands as the best-performing major altcoin. With year-to-date gains while top tokens like Bitcoin and Ethereum plummet, XRP’s 278.95% six-month surge has turned heads. 

XRP Outpaces Rivals Despite Crypto Market Turmoil

While most major digital assets have struggled in 2025, XRP has outperformed. According to the report, XRP showed a modest but significant 0.2% YTD return, leading the top 10 cryptos. XRP’s weekly growth of 1.6% pushed its market cap past $125 billion. The result of Ripple’s years-long legal battle with the U.S. SEC sparked renewed optimism. The $50 million settlement helped restore XRP’s credibility and sparked a surge in the Ripple price.

Chart Patterns Point to Bullish XRP Momentum

The XRP/USDT daily chart presents a descending triangle formed between a $3.40 high and a $1.61 low. If XRP breaks above the $2.50 resistance, a short-term 21% increase could follow. Analysts forecast a push toward $3.88, an 88.85% jump. XRP can even go as high as $4.50, which would mean a 127% surge from current levels.

Chart 1 – Provided by XRP/USDT daily price chart, published on TradingView, April 18, 2025.

Momentum indicators support this. The MACD is showing green histogram bars, signaling positive momentum. The RSI hovers near 46, close to neutral. The technical setup makes a continued strength in the XRP price rally.

Is On-Chain Activity Hinting at a Rally?

Santiment’s analytics confirm strong on-chain metrics for XRP. The network’s realized profit and loss sits at a net daily loss of 4.41 million. Meanwhile, whale activity ($100K–$1M+) remains strong. It is indicating that institutional participants are buying into the Ripple price momentum.

Chart 2 – XRP on-chain analysis, published on Santiment, April 18, 2025.

Active XRP wallet addresses rose dramatically after Trump’s re-election, from around 16,800 to over 100,000 in late 2024. This highlights growing user adoption and use of the XRP Ledger within the broader crypto ecosystem.

XRP Futures Data Signals Growing Bullishness

XRP is gaining relevance. Open interest has reached $3.14 billion, above the 2025 average. On Binance and OKX, the long/short ratios are 2.16 and 1.88, respectively. It is showing a clear bullish leaning among traders. Funding rates remain positive, which means short positions are paying longs. Liquidations are minimal at $2.68 million, indicating market stability. This is adding another layer of credibility to the potential XRP ETF traction.

Will Institutional Support Keep XRP Rising?

Ripple has stepped up its institutional presence. Its strategic ties with Washington, increased PAC donations, and positive alignment with the Trump administration helped clear regulatory ambiguity. As a result, the Ripple price performance has benefited significantly.

Asia’s HashKey Capital has launched the first institutional XRP ETF tracker fund, allowing accredited investors to gain exposure without direct ownership. Ripple, acting as an anchor investor, signals its long-term commitment to institutional access. This is expected to set the stage for more XRP-backed investment products across the crypto ecosystem. 

With several XRP ETF proposals pending U.S. approval, the altcoin is being positioned for mainstream financial integration. These developments support the idea that the XRP price rally has deep institutional roots that may drive it even further.

Bottom Line: Will XRP Drive Further Gains? 

The alignment of technical indicators, political support, regulatory clarity, and institutional investment makes XRP a unique asset in today’s shaky market. The XRP price rally isn’t just hype. It is built on layered support across trading data, on-chain strength, and strategic partnerships.