• XRP, trading at $2.40 with a market cap of $138.21 billion, is gaining momentum amid optimism surrounding Ripple’s SEC lawsuit resolution and the potential approval of a spot XRP ETF.
  • Solana, priced at $212.92 with a $102.82 billion market cap, is set for significant growth, supported by its robust DeFi, NFT, and gaming ecosystem.

The crypto market started 2025 with impressive gains, with Bitcoin (BTC) surpassing $96,000, fueling optimism across the digital asset space. With Bitcoin leading the rally, attention is shifting to altcoins like XRP and Solana (SOL). Both assets are poised to potentially reach a $200 billion market capitalization by the close of Q1 2022.

XRP Price Targets New Highs

XRP price currently trades at $2.40, with a market capitalization of $138.21 billion. The interest level in the token has been rising, as suggested by derivatives data. Open interest in XRP futures rose 1.89% to $2.60 billion, according to Coinglass data. On Binance, the long-to-short ratio for XRP stands at 2.18, meaning the holders prefer a long position instead of a short.

One main giddy-up to optimism is the resolution of Ripple’s legal fight with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). With an appeal hearing scheduled on January 15, 2025, just before a likely inaugural speech by President-elect Donald Trump, market participants are optimistic about a positive result. Trump’s nomination of pro-crypto Paul Atkins as SEC Chair has further raised hopes for the end of the Ripple lawsuit.

Furthermore, Ripple’s ecosystem has expanded massively after the approval of its RLUSD stablecoin in late 2024. Analysts even believe that a legal victory for Ripple will also lead to the approval of a spot XRP ETF. These products would create a new institutional investment opportunity. If these happen, then the XRP price might hit between $3.50 and $4 levels, and the market capitalization will hit $200 billion by the end of Q1 2025, reported CNF.

Solana Gains Traction On Institutional Support

Solana’s price, trading at $212.92 with a market cap of $102.82 billion, is also destined to be worth twice its valuation in the first quarter of 2025. Key fundamental basis and institutionally growing interest are pointing towards a bullish outlook for this token.

Market attention is paid to the SEC’s response to Spot Solana ETF Applications from major financial institutional groups, including VanEck, 21Shares, and Bitwise. Moreover, Polymarket bettors see a 78% chance of the SEC approving ETFs like that in 2025.

According to Coinglass stats , Solana’s open interest has increased 5.68% to $5.61 billion. Whilst the Binance long-to-short ratio for Solana is at 2.58, reflecting investor confidence that the SOL price will move higher. In addition, the Solana ecosystem has seen significant growth in decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and gaming.

The ecosystem’s Total Value Locked (TVL) has reached $9.13 billion. Also, Solana has bagged major institutional partnerships, such as with Franklin Templeton, which recently launched a money market fund on the network. Solana also partnered with Société Générale, which introduced a MiCA-compliant stablecoin.

Although short-term risks exist, Solana has a strong foundation with its robust ecosystem and institutional support. Analysts believe that these factors will eventually push Solana’s price up to $415-$420 soon, reported CNF. Hence, SOL could attain a market cap of $200 billion by Q1 2025.

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