The cryptocurrency landscape is evolving rapidly, and recent trends show Ripple’s native token, XRP, gaining significant momentum—both in market performance and public interest. While Ethereum (ETH) continues to be a major player in the blockchain ecosystem, XRP has recently taken the lead in key areas such as price growth and global search volume. This article explores the factors behind XRP’s surge, compares its performance with ETH, and examines the ongoing legal developments that could shape its future.
XRP’s Recent Price Surge
In the past week, XRP has seen a notable price increase, climbing nearly 12%. On July 18, it reached a high of over $0.63—the highest level in almost four months—before settling around $0.60. This performance outshines both Bitcoin (BTC), which rose 6%, and Ethereum (ETH), which gained only 3% during the same period.
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This bullish movement has placed XRP back in the spotlight, attracting renewed attention from traders and long-term investors alike. The price uptick coincides with growing speculation that a resolution may be near in Ripple’s long-standing legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Rising Global Interest in XRP
Beyond price action, XRP is also dominating online search trends. According to Google Trends data, searches for “XRP” have surged over the past two weeks, consistently outpacing queries for “Ethereum.” This increased curiosity reflects broader market engagement and suggests that retail investors are actively researching the asset.
Countries showing the strongest interest in XRP include Australia, South Africa, Belgium, Cyprus, and Switzerland—indicating a geographically diverse base of investor attention.
While Ethereum remains a dominant force in decentralized applications and smart contracts, its search popularity has lagged behind XRP’s recent spike. However, this trend may not last indefinitely.
Ethereum’s ETF Momentum Builds
A key factor that could soon shift focus back to ETH is the launch of spot Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the United States. On July 23, five major financial firms—including Fidelity and VanEck—began trading their Ethereum ETF products:
- 21Shares Core Ethereum ETF
- Fidelity Ethereum Fund
- Invesco Galaxy Ethereum ETF
- VanEck Ethereum ETF
- Franklin Ethereum ETF
These launches mirror the successful rollout of Bitcoin ETFs earlier in 2024 and are expected to bring institutional capital into the Ethereum ecosystem. The anticipation surrounding these products has already contributed to rising ETH interest in recent days.
Still, while ETF approvals benefit ETH’s long-term credibility, they do not immediately impact its short-term price or public search behavior—areas where XRP currently holds an edge.
The Ripple vs. SEC Legal Battle: A Turning Point?
One of the most significant catalysts behind XRP’s resurgence is progress in its legal dispute with the SEC. The case, which began in late 2020, centers on whether XRP should be classified as a security under U.S. law.
After more than three and a half years of litigation, the trial entered its courtroom phase in April 2025. While final rulings could still be delayed due to potential appeals, many legal experts believe a resolution is imminent.
Prominent attorney Fred Rispoli has pointed to July 31 as a possible settlement date. Meanwhile, legal analyst Jeremy Hogan predicts an announcement before the end of summer. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse echoed this optimism:
“The judge’s ruling was clear. There’s just one remaining issue regarding those sales to institutions. We expect a resolution soon—we just can’t predict exactly when the judge will rule on it.”
This clarity could pave the way for greater adoption of XRP by exchanges, financial institutions, and mainstream investors who have previously held back due to regulatory uncertainty.
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Core Keywords Driving Visibility
To align with search intent and enhance SEO performance, the following core keywords have been naturally integrated throughout this analysis:
- XRP price
- Ethereum vs XRP
- Ripple SEC lawsuit
- XRP Google Trends
- Ethereum ETF
- XRP market performance
- cryptocurrency search trends
- digital asset regulation
These terms reflect what users are actively searching for and help position this content to rank well across major search engines.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is causing XRP’s recent price increase?
XRP’s price rise is driven by a combination of technical momentum, growing retail interest reflected in search trends, and positive market sentiment around the potential resolution of Ripple’s lawsuit with the SEC.
Why is XRP trending more than Ethereum right now?
Despite Ethereum’s technological dominance, XRP is currently trending higher in search volume due to its legal developments and short-term price performance. Google Trends shows sustained global interest in XRP over the past two weeks.
Could Ethereum overtake XRP in searches soon?
Yes. With the launch of spot Ethereum ETFs in the U.S., media coverage and investor curiosity around ETH are likely to increase. This could reverse the current search trend in favor of Ethereum within weeks.
Is the Ripple vs. SEC case almost over?
While no official end date has been confirmed, multiple legal experts and Ripple’s leadership suggest a resolution is imminent—possibly by late July or early August 2025. The outcome will focus on institutional sales of XRP, with earlier rulings already favoring Ripple on other fronts.
Does XRP outperform ETH in all areas?
No. While XRP leads in short-term price gains and search interest, Ethereum maintains superiority in network functionality, developer activity, decentralized finance (DeFi) usage, and institutional product support like ETFs.
How might an SEC settlement affect XRP’s value?
A favorable resolution would likely remove a major regulatory overhang, enabling wider listing on U.S. exchanges and adoption by financial institutions—potentially triggering significant upward price pressure.
Looking Ahead: What Investors Should Watch
As we move deeper into 2025, both XRP and ETH offer compelling narratives. XRP’s near-term momentum is fueled by legal clarity and speculative interest, while Ethereum’s strength lies in its robust ecosystem and growing institutional acceptance through ETFs.
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For investors, staying informed about regulatory milestones, product launches, and macro market trends will be crucial. Whether you're tracking price movements or search behavior, understanding these indicators can provide valuable foresight into future market shifts.
In conclusion, while XRP currently leads in visibility and short-term performance compared to ETH, both assets play unique roles in the evolving digital economy—one driven by payments innovation, the other by decentralized computing power. The next few months could prove pivotal for both.