Bitcoin Has Outpaced XRP Since 2017, According To Analyst

Bitcoin has significantly outperformed XRP since 2017, with XRP printing lower highs across multiple market cycles. Technical analyst Chart Nerd projects XRP could decline another 59-62% against Bitcoin before finding support, indicating sustained capital preference for BTC over altcoins.

XRP's decade-long underperformance against Bitcoin reflects a structural shift in cryptocurrency market dynamics. Since 2017, each recovery peak in the XRP/BTC pair has failed to match previous highs—from 0.000097 in January 2019 down to 0.0000257 in January 2026. This consistent pattern of lower highs suggests that despite occasional rallies in dollar terms, XRP loses ground during Bitcoin strength, indicating limited investor appetite for altcoin rotation.

The technical setup reveals a critical distinction between nominal and relative performance. While XRP gained 37% from February to May in USD terms, this improvement mask a deteriorating position on the BTC pair, where the token failed to hold above its 20-month exponential moving average. Chart Nerd's analysis indicates that capital flows favor Bitcoin accumulation rather than altcoin allocation, with investors either maintaining BTC holdings or exiting cryptocurrency entirely during market cycles.

Historically, XRP has found buyers near specific support zones, and these levels remain relevant as potential floors. However, Chart Nerd's projection of another 59-62% XRP/BTC decline to the 0.0000071-0.0000065 range signals continued relative weakness through 2026. Additional bearish signals from analysts like Ali Martinez, who flagged potential support near $0.73 in USD terms, compound concerns about XRP's trajectory. The broader implication challenges the altcoin rotation thesis that typically accompanies Bitcoin rallies, suggesting investors remain unconvinced about XRP's long-term competitive positioning.

• →XRP has printed lower highs against Bitcoin since 2017, indicating nine years of relative underperformance
• →Technical analysis projects XRP could fall 59-62% against Bitcoin to the 0.0000071-0.0000065 range
• →During Bitcoin rallies, XRP fails to keep pace, signaling capital preference for BTC over altcoin rotation
• →XRP gained 37% in USD terms but lost ground on the BTC pair, masking underlying weakness in relative value
• →Historical support levels have attracted buyers previously, though long-term outlook remains cautious through 2026