Traders in the cryptocurrency space have become accustomed to the price jumps seen in less serious coins like dogecoin (DOGE), often interpreting such movements as indications of market speculation. However, it now appears that XRP, a cryptocurrency designed for payment processing, can also serve as a signal for bullish trends in bitcoin (BTC).
In contrast to meme cryptocurrencies such as DOGE and shiba inu (SHIB), XRP has practical utility. Ripple utilizes it to streamline cross-border transactions, differentiating it from mere speculative tokens.
Nonetheless, since 2017, XRP has acted as a contrary signal for bitcoin enthusiasts, typically experiencing dramatic increases—occasionally rising by several hundred percent in a brief period—during the latter stages of BTC bull runs, signaling when bitcoin is likely to reach its highest value.
XRP saw an extraordinary tenfold increase from December 2017 to early 2018, coinciding with bitcoin reaching its high near $20,000, before entering a drawn-out bear market lasting almost a year.
A similar dramatic increase in XRP was recorded in early 2021, marking the peak of another bullish trend in bitcoin. Additionally, XRP’s rise of roughly 240% in late 2024 preceded bitcoin’s peak above $109,000, followed by a decline below $80,000.
As bitcoin heats up again, discerning traders should consider monitoring XRP for potential indicators of a market peak in the upcoming bull run.