Bitcoin has surged more than 600% in value since 2018, while XRP has declined by 44% over the same period. Some cryptocurrency investors have shifted focus from Bitcoin to more speculative options like XRP, particularly after Bitcoin fell over 20% from its all-time high of $126,000 in October last year. Bitcoin has also underperformed gold and has not reached $100,000 in 2026, despite a minor rally early this year.
XRP demonstrated explosive growth in the short term, skyrocketing 580% from November 2024 to January 2025. However, over longer periods, it has struggled to maintain consistency. Since January 2018, when XRP hit its peak of $3.84, Bitcoin has soared 756%, while XRP is up only 59%. In a 12-month comparison starting January 2025, Bitcoin dropped nearly 5%, and XRP lost about 35% of its value.
Bitcoin has never experienced consecutive losing years since 2012 and was the top-performing global asset in 10 of those years, often posting triple-digit returns. From 2017 to 2025, Bitcoin grew at a compound annual growth rate of 44%. The Motley Fool Stock Advisor team identified 10 stocks they consider better investments than Bitcoin, noting examples like Netflix and Nvidia, which yielded significant returns from past recommendations. Stock Advisor's total average return is 955%, outperforming the S&P 500's 196%.