The cryptocurrency space is more than just Bitcoin, whose dominance fluctuates with whichever narrative prevails at a given time. There are periods when BTC clearly outshines all other coins, as it represents the more established and safer option in an industry known for its volatility.
But there are other periods when its dominance fades, and other tokens further down the crypto food chain make headway. These are commonly known as “altcoins.” Two of the most prominent among this group are Ripple (XRP) and Dogecoin (DOGE). Both nestle in the top 10 of all coins by market cap and like all other non-BTC tokens are prone to boom and bust periods.
Both also offer a completely different value proposition, but does one present a better investment case than the other? One top investor thinks so, but first let’s look at what both offer.
XRP operates on the XRP Ledger and was created to streamline financial transactions in a way similar to SWIFT. Its main advantage is the ability to process cross-border transactions more quickly and cost-effectively than the traditional SWIFT system. It had a big runup following Trump’s November election win and that was down to the promise of a more favorable regulatory backdrop once the new administration took hold of the reins. That has indeed played out as expected. Ripple Labs had been embroiled in a years-long lawsuit with the SEC, which alleged it sold XRP as an unregistered security. After years of legal proceedings, the SEC has dropped its lawsuit against Ripple, marking a significant shift in the regulatory landscape for cryptocurrencies.
In the opposite corner, Dogecoin, a coin that started as a joke, has spearheaded the memecoin phenomenon, and it also surged following Trump’s win but for a different reason. DOGE has a big fan in Elon Musk, and the fact Musk was set to play a prominent role in the new administration as head of the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) – named in homage to his favorite coin – evidently got investors excited. However, it quickly dawned on most that Dogecoin had nothing to with the new government initiative and all the post-election gains have since been handed back to market.
So, which of these two offers the better shot at meaningful returns? According to Adam Spatacco – a 5-star investor ranked in the top 1% of stock pros on TipRanks – the answer is clear.
“The sell-off in Dogecoin is just getting started, and smart investors are best off avoiding investing in narratives supported by memes,” Spatacco opined.
And while he believes XRP’s sharp rise has less to do with fundamentals and is down to the Trump administration’s favorable crypto stance and the SEC news, it represents a far better investment option. That said, investors will need to bide their time here.
“I am cautiously optimistic that 2025 could be a transformative year for XRP as the trepidation around the SEC and its decisions pertaining to Ripple should subside,” Spatacco explained. “Although this could be a bullish indicator for XRP’s adoption in the long run, investors are going to need to exercise some patience. Ultimately, I see an investment in XRP as the clear choice in this analysis but would caution investors against buying into the idea that it will turn into a multibagger overnight.” (To watch Spatacco’s track record, click here)
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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured investor. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.