XRP's Meteoric Rise Overshadows Bitcoin's Tariff-

In early 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved issuers to list spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs in January and July, respectively. This regulatory development set the stage for a significant price surge in the crypto market, with Bitcoin's value skyrocketing from $44,480 to $73,780 by March 2024. The SEC's greenlighting of spot BTC ETFs attracted substantial investor interest and injected significant capital into the market.

Around the same time, XRP, a cryptocurrency linked to Ripple, experienced a notable surge of 50% in January, outperforming the broader crypto market. This surge was fueled by bullish regulatory developments for Ripple, setting the stage for a potential meteoric rally. Analysts speculated that the launch of spot U.S.-listed XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) could trigger a parabolic rise for XRP, similar to the post-ETF rally witnessed in Bitcoin.

As the year progressed, the legal battle between Ripple and the SEC unfolded. The SEC had accused Ripple, CEO Brad Garlinghouse, and co-founder Chris Larsen of conducting an unregistered securities offering, leading to a lawsuit in December 2020. Despite initial setbacks, Ripple made significant progress in the legal proceedings, with a court ruling in July 2023 that XRP sales to retail investors did not violate securities laws. However, Ripple faced a $125 million fine in August 2024 for institutional XRP sales that breached regulations.

In the geopolitical arena, President Donald Trump's tariff threats impacted global trade dynamics. Mexico and Canada engaged in negotiations with the U.S., resulting in a temporary resolution that delayed tariffs by 30 days. The uncertainty surrounding these tariff negotiations had implications for the broader economy, including the crypto market. Bitcoin's price was buoyed by the delayed tariffs but remained vulnerable to geopolitical developments.

Looking ahead to 2025, speculations arose regarding the potential approval of XRP exchange-traded funds following Donald Trump's return to office. Analysts anticipated that XRP ETFs, proposed by various asset managers, could attract substantial investor capital into XRP, potentially exceeding $8 billion. Meanwhile, ongoing legal proceedings and regulatory clarity surrounding Ripple's lawsuit with the SEC continued to influence market sentiments, shaping the trajectory of XRP's price movements amidst a dynamic regulatory landscape.

Links to the stories discussed: - Can't Miss: Pundit Predicts XRP’s Meteoric Moonshot Will Make Bitcoin’s Post-ETF Rally ‘Look Like Child’s Play’ - Must See-> Bitcoin Price Buoyed by Delayed Trump Tariffs, But BTC Isn't Out of the Woods Yet