Why XRP Keeps Thriving While Others Fade: It's Not Wall Street, It's the Army

The cryptocurrency market has fundamentally shifted. Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz recently broke down why XRP has managed to stay relevant when countless altcoins disappear into obscurity: it’s the unwavering support of its community, not institutional capital flows, that keeps the asset alive.

In a candid podcast discussion, Novogratz drew a sharp distinction between how Bitcoin and XRP maintain their positions. Bitcoin’s trajectory is now shaped by spot ETF inflows that provide steady demand absorption even during volatile swings. XRP, however, operates on a different mechanism entirely—one powered by grassroots believers who’ve stayed vocal and engaged through multiple bear markets.

The Community as a Survival Mechanism

Think of the “XRP Army” as constantly monitoring market sentiment and responding to every price move—similar to how systems addEventListener to track changes. This persistent community presence creates visibility that new projects simply cannot replicate. Novogratz argued that in an era where capital allocation has become ruthless, altcoins without strong community backing face extinction.

What makes XRP different? The belief factor. Community loyalty has transformed from mere enthusiasm into a structural element of the asset’s value proposition. This aligns with observations from Ripple’s CTO David Schwartz, who noted back in 2017 that the XRP Ledger’s fee structure creates an interesting dynamic: as XRP price appreciates, transaction costs denominated in XRP actually become more economical in dollar terms. This mechanism reinforces network utility without requiring constant narrative refreshes.

Bitcoin ETFs vs. XRP’s Organic Strength

Novogratz also weighed in on Bitcoin’s recent consolidation around the $100,000 level. Rather than viewing this as exhaustion, he characterized it as a healthy equilibrium phase. Spot Bitcoin ETFs have fundamentally altered supply dynamics—they now absorb selling pressure even when volatility spikes, creating a floor beneath sharper declines. The psychological and technical barrier at $100,000 exists precisely because prior rallies concentrated supply at these levels, attracting profit-taking from large investors.

Yet XRP operates in an entirely different ecosystem. Legal expert Bill Morgan observed that anticipated “XRP ETF supply shock” effects have already begun materializing through related investment products, reshaping market expectations. However, Novogratz cautioned against excessive optimism. Macro headwinds remain substantial: a sharp Nasdaq correction could trigger indiscriminate crypto selling, and the employment uncertainty created by AI advancement adds another layer of risk to all speculative assets.

The Divergence Widens

The contrast is stark. Bitcoin has institutional plumbing via ETFs creating structural demand. XRP has something perhaps more durable in bear markets: a community that refuses to abandon the narrative. Neither is inherently superior—they represent different paths to resilience in an increasingly selective capital environment. For XRP to break through resistance, it needs both: the growing awareness that its technical fundamentals support network economics, and the continued vocal presence of believers who treat every dip as an opportunity rather than a surrender point.