XRP Up 89% in One Year While Bitcoin Gains Just 3.6%: What's Driving the Gap?

"As of mid-November 2025, XRP ( CRYPTO: XRP) is one of the only large-cap digital assets still showing strong gains over the last year. According to CoinGecko's market data , XRP has gained about 89% over the past 365 days, while Bitcoin ( CRYPTO: BTC) has returned roughly 3.6%. The gap is striking, and it's not random. The answer lies in a combination of legal clarity, new products and partnerships around XRP, and macro headwinds that have been weighing on Bitcoin."

"For years, the SEC's lawsuit against Ripple Labs hung over XRP's adoption. In August 2025, that changed. Ripple settled for $125 million, and a judge affirmed that XRP sales on exchanges aren't securities. The resolution removed a significant legal overhang and boosted confidence for banks, payment firms, and regulated institutions to engage with the token without fear of enforcement action."

"Technical innovation also played a role. Ripple launched an Ethereum-compatible sidechain for the XRP Ledger, allowing smart contracts and decentralized finance applications to run alongside native XRP transfers. At the same time, Ripple issued RLUSD , a U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin. RLUSD reached a $1 billion market cap within a year. These products increased liquidity, enabled borrowing and lending on the XRPL, and created new ways for companies to settle payments."

As of mid-November 2025, XRP gained about 89% over the past 365 days while Bitcoin returned roughly 3.6%. A legal settlement in August 2025 saw Ripple pay $125 million and a judge affirm that XRP sales on exchanges are not securities, removing a major regulatory overhang. Technical upgrades included an Ethereum-compatible XRPL sidechain enabling smart contracts and DeFi alongside native XRP transfers. Ripple issued RLUSD, a U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin that reached $1 billion market cap within a year, increasing liquidity and enabling borrowing and lending on XRPL. High-profile partnerships, a U.S. banking license application, and pilots with legacy payment networks signaled institutional adoption. Macro headwinds continued to weigh on Bitcoin.

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