Better Crypto Buy: XRP (Ripple) vs. Solana

It's time for a showdown between two of the most important cryptocurrencies in 2025. In one corner, XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) backed by Ripple, aims to revolutionize the traditional financial system with its blockchain-based payment alternative. On the other side of the ring, Solana (CRYPTO: SOL) is fueling the Web3 revolution with its lightning-fast network, home to a growing number of decentralized apps (dApps), smart contracts, and even meme coins.

XRP has outperformed recently, up 14% year to date as I write this, in sharp contrast to the volatility facing Solana, down about 33%. Yet, going back two years, a $1,000 investment in either crypto would be coincidentally worth approximately $6,500 today, highlighting their history of rewarding investors.

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The question remains -- which crypto is the better buy right now?

XRP Price data by YCharts

XRP (Ripple): Blockchain payments powerhouse

The new Trump administration has taken a decisively pro-crypto stance, establishing a working group to draft clear regulations, marking a departure from regulatory ambiguity. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has mirrored this shift by dismissing several enforcement cases against crypto firms and adopting a relatively hands-off approach to the industry. These changes have reinforced cryptocurrency's status as a legitimate alternative asset.

XRP has emerged as one of the biggest winners from this favorable regulatory environment. The SEC formally dropped its long-running appeal of a 2023 ruling that XRP, sold by Ripple on public exchanges, does not meet the legal definition of a security. This decision paves the way for XRP to expand its role as a bridge currency in the RippleNet payment system, which has already been adopted by more than 300 global financial institutions.

XRP's allure lies in its functionality as an intermediary, enabling a global network of near-instant, low-cost cross-border transfers. This real-world use case exemplifies how blockchain technology is transforming traditional finance, with ample reasons to believe the adoption tailwind is just beginning.

Industry experts estimate the total annual value of all cross-border payment flows at $150 trillion, currently dominated by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT). However, this legacy system is known for inefficiencies, with wire transfers taking days and costing up to $50. XRP solves these issues by processing 1,500 transactions per second at just $0.0002, providing banks with a faster, cheaper solution for global payments. Despite competition from other cryptocurrencies like Stellar and Hedera, XRP's leadership role should help it consolidate market share.

Investors who believe XRP represents the future of banking could consider buying it for the long run.

Solana: Web3 surge

While XRP has carved out a finance niche, Solana stands out through its booming ecosystem of broader crypto applications. Solana's high-performance blockchain has seen remarkable growth since its 2020 launch, leveraging key advantages over Ethereum, the reigning dApps leader. Solana boasts faster transaction speeds, lower costs, and greater scalability, driving a surge of development.

Indeed, 2024 data reveals that Solana outpaced Ethereum in several key metrics, including new developers, new addresses, and daily transactions. Although Solana's $66 billion market cap trails Ethereum's $240 billion and XRP's $138 billion, its development momentum suggests significant upside potential as it lures activity away from Ethereum's blockchain.

Meme coins, which are distinct cryptocurrencies built on the Solana blockchain, have proven highly popular. These meme coins, often with humorous names like Dogwifhat, lack utility beyond speculative trading but underscore Solana's vibrant Web3 ecosystem. Similar to XRP, Solana recently received welcome news from the SEC, which ruled that meme coins are akin to digital collectibles, effectively giving the market a regulatory green light.

Ultimately, Solana's ability to remain at the forefront of crypto innovation helps make the case that it's one of the best cryptocurrencies to own.

Decision time: The edge to Solana

It's a tough task to choose between XRP and Solana, as I believe both can have significant long-term upside in the next stage of the crypto bull market.

If forced to pick just one as the better buy right now, I'd give the edge to Solana, with a sense that its recent weakness has been overdone, meaning it could offer more upside compared to XRP on a possible rebound. Recognizing the potential for further near-term volatility, I suggest always investing with a long-term perspective and maintaining a diversified portfolio, but Solana is definitely worth a look.

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Dan Victor has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Ethereum, Solana, and XRP. The Motley Fool recommends Hedera. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.