XRP Price Dreams of 2017 Glory Face Harsh 2025 Reality

XRP price bulls are calling for a repeat of 2017’s legendary rally, but weaker holder conviction and stiff competition suggest the conditions in 2025 are very different.

XRP (XRP-USD) bulls are looking back at old charts and calling for a repeat of 2017’s monster rally. But the signals from holders and Bitcoin comparisons show this time may be very different.

Analysts Call for a $20 Target

Some of the most vocal XRP chartists are pointing to 2017 for inspiration. Back then, XRP consolidated in a giant triangle before breaking out in spectacular fashion. The token went on to surge more than 11,900% in less than a year.

Today, analysts like CRYPTOWZRD and JD are saying the same structure is playing out. They argue that XRP’s recent price consolidation could clear the path to $20, a cycle target that mirrors the historic move.

On the surface, the comparison looks appealing. XRP has once again been trading in a tight range, testing patience as traders wait for a breakout. But the market backdrop is very different from eight years ago.

Long-Term Holders Show Doubt Instead of Conviction

In 2017, long-term XRP holders never lost their nerve during the rally. Profitability soared, and the Net Unrealized Profit/Loss data showed they stayed firmly in the Euphoria zone. Their confidence carried the parabolic move.

In 2025, the picture looks much weaker. Even though XRP has rallied this year, long-term holders have already slipped into what analysts call the Belief–Denial phase. This means they are questioning whether the gains can last.

The mood looks more like 2021, when excitement turned into hesitation and the market cooled shortly after. This lack of conviction could make it hard for XRP to repeat its old glory run.

XRP Struggles to Outperform Bitcoin

Back in 2017, XRP did not just rise in dollar terms. It also crushed Bitcoin. The XRP/BTC pair exploded by more than 3,700% in a single year, cementing XRP as one of the few large-cap altcoins with a unique payments pitch.

This time, XRP looks much weaker. The pair has bounced slightly to around 0.000025 BTC, but it remains 90% below its peak. It is also stuck in a zone where rallies have stalled again and again since 2019.

The competition has changed too. Ethereum (ETH-USD), Solana (SOL-USD), Sui (SUI-USD), and even stablecoins like USDC (USDC-USD) now dominate cross-border settlement conversations. XRP is no longer the lone altcoin with a strong narrative.

Why 2025 Is Not 2017

The comparisons to 2017 create exciting headlines. But in reality, the conditions are nothing alike. The market has matured, the rivals are stronger, and the confidence from long-term holders has faded.

For XRP bulls, betting on another 11,900% surge may be less like history repeating and more like chasing a ghost.

At the time of writing, XRP is sitting at $2.8093.