CoinDesk Says XRP Has Failed to Make Holders Rich Like Bitcoin and Ethereum

Crypto analyst Steph Is Crypto (@Steph_crypto) raised a pointed observation about XRP’s long-term price performance. The post referenced a Coindesk report highlighting XRP’s failure to reclaim its highs from 2018.

What Coindesk’s Data Shows

The Coindesk chart measures percentage change from each token’s late 2017 or early 2018 peak to its latest price in October 2026. BNB leads all assets on the list with a gain of +2,818% above its prior peak. Dogecoin follows at +322%, and Bitcoin sits at +314%.

Ethereum has gained +66%, while Zcash is up 38%. Tron sits just 4.2% below its former high. XRP sits at the bottom of the chart, still 62.5% below its January 2018 peak. At the time of the chart, XRP traded at $1.33.

The All-time High Debate

A separate question surrounds XRP’s actual all-time high. Some have cited $3.84 as the peak reached in 2018. Ripple CTO Emeritus David Schwartz has debunked that figure. According to Schwartz, XRP’s true all-time high is $3.65, reached in July 2025.

Regardless of which figure is accurate, XRP crossed $3 in early 2018. The current price of $1.33 puts XRP well below both figures.

Years of Development With the Same Price Problem

Since 2018, XRP has accumulated years of Ripple partnerships and institutional adoption. Price predictions from analysts and community members have been frequent. None of that activity has translated into a price above previous highs.

Bitcoin and Ethereum have both surpassed their 2018 peaks by significant margins. Experts often predict that XRP will outperform both assets, but it hasn’t shown the same positive performance.

The Community Reacts

He suggested that the SEC lawsuit suppressed XRP’s price. Another took a more measured position, acknowledging the situation but arguing that patience remains important for long-term holders.