In 2024, Bitcoin (BTC) remained among the most dominant cryptocurrencies, reaching an all-time high above the elusive $100,000 mark, fueled by post-election optimism.
Although Bitcoin remains the centerpiece of market discussions, and some analysts predict its continued dominance into 2025 with price forecasts of up to $200,000, several digital currencies are worth watching.
Backed by strong fundamentals, these contenders will likely emerge as key players in the new year.
Picks for you
XRP
The Ripple-affiliated token emerged as a standout performer in the end-of-year cryptocurrency rally, breaking out of a prolonged consolidation phase below $1.
Moving into 2025, XRP is well-positioned for potential dominance, bolstered by regulatory developments—most notably the ongoing Ripple and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) case.
With the upcoming Donald Trump administration, the market anticipates more crypto-friendly regulations. Trump has already nominated Paul Atkins, a cryptocurrency advocate, for SEC Chair.
If confirmed, there is anticipation that Atkins may push for dismissal of the Ripple case or support a settlement. The resolution of this legal battle is expected to reignite investor interest in XRP, which has been significantly affected by the prolonged litigation.
The new SEC leadership is also anticipated to approve a spot XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF), which could attract institutional investors.
Ripple’s involvement in launching a stablecoin further enhances XRP’s value proposition beyond speculative trading.
At press time, XRP was trading at $2.14, having rallied about 240% in the last 24 hours.
Technical indicators suggest significant potential for price growth, with some analysts forecasting a high of $5 for XRP.
Solana (SOL)
Solana (SOL) is also positioned for potential dominance in 2025, driven by various fundamental factors. The anticipated launch of Solana-based ETFs in 2025 could draw institutional investment, which historically catalyzes price appreciation.
The platform’s versatility and appeal to retail investors are evident in the rise of Solana-based meme coins, outperforming other established cryptocurrencies in market capitalization. This surge indicates Solana’s growing influence and ability to attract diverse market participants.
Notably, Solana’s developer ecosystem saw notable growth in 2024, outpacing Ethereum for the first time since 2016. According to Electric Capital, Solana experienced an 83% year-over-year increase, with 7,625 new developers joining the network compared to Ethereum’s 6,456.
This growth has fueled a surge in projects, with Solana occasionally surpassing Ethereum (ETH) in daily network activity, including meme coin in March and daily fee generation in October. Therefore, if the Solana network avoids any extensive downtimes in 2025, it’s likely to see more investor interest.
At press time, Solana was trading at $190, down over 2% on the daily chart, while in the past year, the asset has rallied 78%.
While XRP and Solana show strong potential for dominance in 2025, their success will largely depend on overall market momentum.
Featured image via Shutterstock
