CoinDesk Reports XRP Lags Behind Bitcoin and Ethereum in Generating Wealth

Crypto analyst Steph Is Crypto (@Steph_crypto) recently drew attention to XRP’s long-term price trajectory. The commentary pointed to a report by CoinDesk that underscores XRP’s ongoing inability to surpass its price peaks from 2018.

CoinDesk published a chart on X illustrating the price performance of major digital assets compared to their respective peaks in December 2017 and January 2018. The data paints a stark picture of XRP’s current market standing.

What CoinDesk’s Data Shows

The CoinDesk graphic tracks the percentage difference between each cryptocurrency’s late 2017 or early 2018 peak and its valuation in October 2026. BNB outperforms all listed assets, boasting a +2,818% increase over its previous peak. Dogecoin trails at +322%, and Bitcoin stands at +314%.

Meanwhile, Ethereum has climbed +66%, and Zcash shows a 38% gain. Tron trades just 4.2% under its former high. XRP anchors the bottom of the rankings, remaining 62.5% lower than its January 2018 peak. When the chart was published, XRP was valued at $1.33.

DATA: XRP trades around $1.33, about 62.5% below its January 2018 peak, while Bitcoin, Ether and several other major cryptocurrencies have surpassed their previous highs.

— CoinDesk (@CoinDesk) October 16, 2026

The All-time High Debate

A secondary debate centers on XRP’s true all-time high. While some observers cite $3.84 as the peak achieved in 2018, Ripple CTO Emeritus David Schwartz has disputed that number. Schwartz maintains that XRP’s actual all-time high is $3.65, registered in July 2025.

Whichever metric is used, XRP traded above $3 in early 2018. At its current rate of $1.33, the token stays significantly beneath both figures.

Years of Development With the Same Price Problem

Over the years since 2018, XRP has seen a steady expansion of Ripple partnerships alongside growing institutional adoption. Frequent price forecasts from market experts and community advocates have followed, yet none of these milestones have pushed the price past prior highs.

Both Bitcoin and Ethereum have comfortably exceeded their 2018 records. Although analysts frequently forecast that XRP will eventually outperform these leading assets, it has yet to deliver equivalent growth.

The Community Reacts

Responding to the data, a community member pointed out that neither Bitcoin nor Ethereum has encountered the same level of legal scrutiny as XRP, suggesting that the SEC lawsuit has kept the price suppressed. Another adopter adopted a more moderate stance, recognizing the reality of the numbers while stressing that long-term investors still need patience.

Conversely, one user labeled XRP as heavily manipulated and recommended liquidating holdings, while another concurred, remarking that investors have endured hardship over the past nine years. Ultimately, CoinDesk’s figures quantify this performance disparity, leaving XRP as one of the rare major tokens still trading below its 2018 peak.

Frequently Asked Questions

What price was XRP trading at according to CoinDesk’s data?

At the time of the CoinDesk report, XRP was trading around $1.33, which is about 62.5% below its January 2018 peak.

Which cryptocurrencies have performed better than XRP since 2018?

Major assets like BNB, Dogecoin, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Zcash, and Tron have all outperformed XRP relative to their late 2017 and early 2018 peaks, with BNB seeing a gain of +2,818%.

What is XRP’s true all-time high according to David Schwartz?

Ripple CTO Emeritus David Schwartz has stated that XRP’s true all-time high is $3.65, achieved in July 2025, rather than the commonly cited $3.84 from 2018.

Why do some community members believe XRP’s price has lagged?

Some community members argue that the prolonged SEC lawsuit and heavy legal scrutiny suppressed XRP’s price growth compared to Bitcoin and Ethereum.