Bitcoin (BTC) did push past $114,000 earlier this year, sparking headlines and a wave of retail euphoria. But just as quickly, the market reminded everyone that no rally runs forever. Profit-taking set in, and Bitcoin has pulled back. For long-term holders, this is business as usual. For short-term traders, though, the retrace is raising a bigger question: can Bitcoin still deliver the life-changing returns it once did, or is that role now shifting to other assets like XRP?
Bitcoin (BTC): a giant with limited multiples
There’s no denying Bitcoin’s status. It’s still the most trusted digital asset, the coin that institutions buy when they want exposure to crypto. At a trillion-dollar-plus market cap, Bitcoin is the benchmark for the entire market. But that size is also its ceiling. Even if BTC doubles again, the percentage return looks small compared to what traders could earn in smaller, more nimble tokens.
That’s why retail money is restless. Bitcoin is the anchor, but for many, it’s no longer the rocket ship. Traders who once looked to BTC for 50x gains now recognize those days are behind it.
Why XRP price could surprise in 2026
XRP has lived in Bitcoin’s shadow for years, weighed down by legal battles and inconsistent momentum. But heading into 2026, the landscape is shifting. Ripple has made progress with regulators, and its payments network is expanding across borders. This foundation has analysts calling for the XRP price to rally harder than Bitcoin in percentage terms over the next two years.
The logic is simple: Bitcoin is a giant already priced for dominance. XRP is smaller, cheaper, and tied to real-world use cases that institutions are beginning to notice. If adoption accelerates, XRP could multiply far faster than BTC.
Where the money could flow next
The strategy among investors is becoming clearer: hold Bitcoin (BTC) for security, but chase growth elsewhere. XRP sits at the center of that discussion because it straddles two worlds—serious institutional adoption on one side, and speculative upside on the other. That mix is exactly what traders are looking for in the next cycle.
It’s not just retail traders buying into the story. Whales have been quietly accumulating XRP at lower levels, betting that regulatory clarity and stronger utility could make it one of the top performers of 2026.
The perception shift is real
The biggest change isn’t just in charts, it’s in mindset. A few years ago, Bitcoin (BTC) was considered the risky play. Today, it’s the “safe” crypto. That shift leaves space for XRP to claim the speculative spotlight. It shows how much the market has matured—investors now treat Bitcoin like digital gold, while they look to altcoins like XRP for the big multiples.
This doesn’t mean Bitcoin is irrelevant. Far from it. BTC still drives the entire market cycle. But it does mean that the explosive returns of tomorrow may not come from the same place they did yesterday.
Conclusion
Bitcoin (BTC) will stay the market anchor, and XRP could see outsized gains if adoption accelerates. But the story many traders are watching is the rise of Layer Brett, which combines meme culture with Ethereum Layer 2 scalability and staking rewards that appeal to both retail and whales.
For conservative investors, Bitcoin is the safe hold. For those chasing growth, XRP offers upside. And for traders betting on the next viral breakout, Layer Brett is shaping up to be the wildcard that defines 2025 and beyond.
Don’t miss your chance to join the next top meme coin and stake for potentially life-changing rewards.
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X: (1) Layer Brett (@LayerBrett) / X
