In a recent episode of the Mr. M podcast, former Ripple CEO Matt Hamilton expressed his belief that XRP is on its way to surpassing Bitcoin and becoming the leading cryptocurrency. Hamilton highlighted that XRP previously held the top spot in 2018, when its market capitalization surpassed Bitcoin’s and dwarfed Ethereum’s.
Advantages of XRP over Bitcoin
During the conversation with Bitcoin enthusiast Davinci Jeremy, Hamilton argued that XRP offers several advantages over Bitcoin, especially its utility. He said that while Bitcoin is often thought of as “digital gold,” its slow transaction speeds and outdated technology hinder its use for everyday transactions. XRP, on the other hand, can process transactions in seconds and handle a large volume without performance issues, making it better suited for scalability.
Decentralization and institutional influence
Hamilton acknowledged Bitcoin’s decentralized nature, but argued that it is now influenced by major financial institutions, which contradicts its original mission to disrupt traditional banking. He pointed out that Bitcoin, with rising transaction fees and lower mining rewards, could alienate smaller users.
While Jeremy defended Bitcoin’s fixed supply and resistance to inflation, Hamilton highlighted XRP’s ability to function as a bridge currency for central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). He believes that XRP’s infrastructure makes it more practical for everyday use compared to Bitcoin.
Growing institutional interest in XRP
In addition, Ripple recently launched a guide aimed at the fast-growing $20 trillion custody market, targeting institutional adoption. The guide helps banks build great custody solutions for digital assets, and reflects Ripple’s commitment to expanding its influence across the financial landscape.
With Ripple’s customer growth in custodial services rising more than 250% year-over-year, Hamilton is optimistic about XRP’s future as a major player in the cryptocurrency market. As institutional interest grows, many believe XRP’s utility will drive its rise, potentially surpassing both Bitcoin and Ethereum in the coming years.