What Is The Difference Between Bitcoin And Ripple? (2024)

There is so much hype and confusion in the blockchain, distributed ledger and cryptocurrency world and one name that keeps increasignly coming up in that space is Ripple. I often get asked about the difference between Bitcoin (still the best known cryptocurrency based on blockchain) and Ripple. So in this post I try to explain what exactly Ripple is and what makes it different from Bitcoin.

What Is The Difference Between Bitcoin And Ripple? (1)

Before I go into any more detail, always, remember that investing in cryptocoins or tokens is highly speculative and the market is largely unregulated. Anyone considering it should be prepared to lose their entire investment.

Ripple v Bitcoin

While Bitcoin is a digital currency intended as a means of payment for goods and services, Ripple is a payment settling, currency exchange and remittance system intended for banks and payment networks. The idea is to provide a system for direct transfer of assets (e.g. money, gold, etc.) that settles in almost real-time, and is a cheaper, more transparent and secure alternative to transfer systems used by banks today, such as the SWIFT payment system.

Bitcoin is based on blockchain technology, while Ripple doesn’t use blockchain but uses a distributed consensus ledger using a network of validating servers and crypto tokens called XRP (sometimes referred to as Ripples).

XRP tokens

XRP – which is the actual cryptocurrency – is a token which is used on the Ripple network to facilitate transfers of money between different currencies. Existing settlement systems generally use US dollars as a common currency for converting between other currencies. This incurs currency exchange fees and takes time – which is why bank transfers between accounts in different countries often take up to three days to process.

By first converting the value of the transfer into XRP, rather than USD, exchange fees are eliminated and processing of payments is reduced to seconds.

Banks including Fidor Bank, Santander, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and a consortium of 61 Japanese banks have all said that they are trialing or implementing applications utilising the Ripple Network payment system.

XRP is a token used for representing transfer of value across the Ripple Network. Different to bitcoin, where new coins are created (up the a capped level) as rewards for participants offering computing power to maintain the blockchain network, Ripple created 100 billion XRP coins at its inception.

Ripple recently added a new feature whereby, through a smart contract system (escrows), the company releases1billion of its XRP holding to themselves each month to help fund business operations, incentivisecustomers, and sell to accredited investors. Any unused tokens will be placed back into escrow. According to internal sources, last month (which was the first month of escrow) Ripple only used approximately 100 million and put 900 million back into escrow.

Where can I spend Ripple’s XRP?

Ripple was never designed to be a currency or a method of payment. However, there is a small list of merchants which accept payment in XRP tokens online. For example, you can buyhoney, hot sauces and jewellery. You can find a list of vendors that are supposedly willing to accept Ripple’s XRP, but things are changing constantly and some that are listed there do not or no longer accept it. The primary use case for XRP is intended to be for transfer of other currencies (or indeed commodities such as gold or oil) over the Ripple network.” Each time a money (or asset) transferring organisationsuch as a bank uses the network to conduct a transfer and settlement, the cost is deducted in a small amount of XRP. This is what gives XRP themselves their value – in some ways they can be considered “fuel” for the machines which conduct these transfers.

How can I invest in Ripple? And should I?

Ripple has certainly gained a lot of momentum and the list of organisations which are using it indicates that the tokens themselves will become valued commodities in their own right. In fact, last year, the increase in value of one XRP token outperformed Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency. At the start of 2017 one XRP was valued $0.006. They peaked, at the start of this year, at £3.87, before quickly crashing down to their current value of around $1 per XRP.

XRP are traded on cryptocurrency exchanges such as Binance and Poloniex. Usually, it isn’t possible to buy them with existing government-issued (fiat) currencies – you will have to buy Bitcoin or Ethereum first, then transfer them to an exchange to trade them for XRP.

As to the question of “should you?” – well, as I am not a financial advisor I wouldn’t give investment advice but it is fair to say that the uptake of Ripple by major financial institutions is generally considered to be a strong indicator of XRP’s future value. However, before investing in any crypocurrency you should thoroughly research it first, and make up your own mind about whether or not it is likely to be a valuable asset in the future. As we have seen, the value of all cryptocurrencies is highly volatile, and can go down just as quickly as it goes up. A solid piece of advice is never to invest more than you can comfortably afford to lose.

What Is The Difference Between Bitcoin And Ripple? (2024)

FAQs

Which is better Bitcoin or Ripple? ›

The Ripple system scores better than the bitcoin network for its lower processing times and lower transaction charges.

How is Ripple different? ›

Ripple's primary functions are currency exchange, remittances, and international payments. As an alternative to the status quo of SWIFT payments, Ripple offers a much faster, cheaper, and hassle-free way to exchange currencies and send money across borders.

What is the major point of difference between Bitcoin & ethereum? ›

2 However, there are many significant differences. While bitcoin is designed as a currency and a store of value, the Ethereum network is intended for complex smart contracts and decentralized applications.

Is Bitcoin and XRP the same? ›

Bitcoin was developed as a digital decentralised currency with the aim of paying for goods and services. XRP, on the other hand, was created for banks and payment networks as a means of payment settlement, a money transfer system, and currency exchange.

How many banks use Ripple? ›

RippleNet Members

Ripple collaborates with financial institutions worldwide; more than 100 financial institutions have joined RippleNet, including: Santander (USA)

What is the disadvantage of Ripple? ›

Ripple has major drawbacks, including: More Centralization: Ripple uses “trusted validators” to verify transactions and maintain the integrity of the blockchain. There's no incentive for mining, which means fewer people running security checks on the blockchain. That could lead to greater security risks.

What is special about Ripple? ›

Ripple (XRP) is a money transfer network and digital currency that allows transactions that can happen many times faster than with Bitcoin or Ethereum. With just an internet connection, you can complete various transactions.

Why Ripple is the best? ›

XRP is faster, cheaper, and more energy-efficient

Because of its consensus protocol, XRP is able to process transactions in seconds at a low cost and with minimal energy. This makes it one of the more environmentally friendly cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin transactions, on the other hand, aren't efficient.

What is the best way to describe Ripple? ›

A ripple is a small wave on the surface of something, such as a ripple that forms a ring around the spot where you threw a pebble into the pond. Ripple can also be a verb. For example, you might see raindrops ripple on top of a puddle.

Is it better to hold Bitcoin or Ethereum? ›

Bitcoin for the long run

From this perspective, Bitcoin appears to be the superior investment option. Of course, this does not guarantee that it will outperform Ethereum over the next six to 12 months.

Why do people prefer Ethereum over Bitcoin? ›

Ethereum leverages blockchain technology for its decentralized, transparent system. The technology enables functionality beyond digital currency, such as decentralized applications and smart contracts. The developer community is one of the largest. The Ethereum platform processes transactions faster than Bitcoin.

Should I choose Ethereum or Bitcoin? ›

The answer to the question of which cryptocurrency is better in the choice between Bitcoin vs. Ethereum, it depends entirely on your requirements. While Bitcoin works better as a peer-to-peer transaction system, Ethereum works well when you need to create and build distributed applications and smart contracts.

Are banks using XRP? ›

XRP vs.

RippleNet is a blockchain geared toward banking institutions that can be used to settle transactions like remittance payments, in addition to exchanging currencies. Ripple's partners include big banks like Bank of America, Member FDIC, and over 55 countries have signed on to use it.

Can Ripple be as big as Bitcoin? ›

Experts Say Yes. A lot of people made a lot of money out of Bitcoin. Most of them invested in the early stages many years ago and sold recently near the top.

Does XRP have a future? ›

XRP Price Prediction 2025

Based on the technical analysis by cryptocurrency experts regarding the prices of XRP, in 2024, XRP is expected to have the following minimum and maximum prices: about $0.9999 and $1.20, respectively. The average expected trading cost is $1.03.

Who owns most of Ripple? ›

Brad Garlinghouse

Is it too late to buy XRP? ›

Is It Too Late to Buy XRP in 2022? It's still not too late to buy XRP in 2022, especially if you invest in crypto assets for the long term. The world of crypto assets is unpredictable. Every crypto asset will have its ups and downs throughout the year.

Why was Ripple removed? ›

In a Tuesday announcement, America's biggest exchange said that from January 23 it would no longer support Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Ethereum Classic (ETC), Ripple (XRP), or Stellar (XLM) on Coinbase Wallet. Coinbase said the move was “due to low usage” of the assets on the platform.

Why you should not invest in Ripple? ›

There are many reasons why you may choose not to buy Ripple in 2022. It could be the tight monetary policy of the Fed, negative crypto market conditions, or that the price may still fall, according to some forecasts.

Is investing in Ripple a good idea? ›

XRP has gained the trust of both financial institutions and investors, which could make it a more reliable, stable investment than some other alt-coins. Additionally, XRP has a finite number of coins, unlike some other cryptocurrencies, where tokens are constantly being created and mined.

Is Ripple still a good buy? ›

If you're looking for a low-cost way to begin investing in cryptocurrency, XRP might be a good option due to its growth potential. Be prepared for the coin to dip or spike sharply based on the final SEC court judgement.

What happens if Ripple loses? ›

CEO Brad Garlinghouse said a few countries have reached out to Ripple about relocating. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said the crypto company will move to another country if it loses in its legal battle with the SEC.

How does Ripple make money? ›

How Does Ripple Make Money? Although the XRP cryptocurrency is decentralized, it's still tied to a private company in Ripple, and Ripple makes money by selling XRP, payment fees, profits from investments, as well as interest fees on loans.

What problems does Ripple solve? ›

In short, Ripple's XRP-powered solution helps network members process payments with real-time settlement and improve payment efficiency and certainty. XRP, itself, is used to source liquidity on-demand and reduce the amount in nostro accounts required to make global payments.

Does Bank of America use XRP? ›

The second largest bank in the USA in terms of asset value, and one of the top 10 banks in the world, Bank of America (BofA) has been working with Ripple for a long time.

Will I get rich from Ripple? ›

Considering the factors highlighted above, Ripple seems like a decent option for long-term cryptocurrency investment. It has also been predicted that the value of XRP will soar in the coming years. The coin may be worth so much in ten years' time that it will make you rich.

Can Ripple be trusted? ›

It serves as a trusted agent between two parties in a transaction as the network can quickly confirm that the exchange went through properly. Ripple can facilitate exchanges for a variety of fiat currencies and cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, to name one example.

What is ripple in simple words? ›

a small wave or a slight movement of a surface, esp. the surface of water: The stone hit the water and caused a ring of ripples to spread out. A ripple is also a sound or feeling that is slight but is noticed: A ripple of laughter ran through the crowd.

What is the full meaning of ripple? ›

/ (ˈrɪpəl) / noun. a slight wave or undulation on the surface of water. a small wave or undulation in fabric, hair, etc. a sound reminiscent of water flowing quietly in ripplesa ripple of laughter.

What is the example of ripple? ›

Example Sentences

Verb Water rippled under the dock. We could see the lion's muscles ripple. A cool breeze rippled the water. Noun The pebble made ripples in the pond when I threw it in.

What is the best crypto to buy right now? ›

Best Crypto to Buy Now - Top 10 List
  • MEMAG - Overall Best Cryptocurrency to Buy Today for P2E, NFTs and More.
  • Fight Out - Move-to-Earn Concept Rewards Users for Exercise.
  • C+Charge - Democratizing the Carbon Credit Industry Through Charging Stations.
  • Robotera - Innovative Planet-Rebuilding Metaverse With Robot Avatars.
2 days ago

Who owns the most Bitcoin? ›

According to bitcoin-focused asset manager River Financial, Satoshi Nakamoto, the anonymous inventor of Bitcoin, is estimated to be the biggest bitcoin holder in possession of more than one million BTC stored in roughly 22,000 addresses.
...
Who owns the most bitcoins?
Long position overnight fee-0.0500%
Spread60.00
2 more rows
Dec 8, 2022

How many Ethereum are left? ›

There is a wide range of currencies that have a finite supply. Ethereum, however, has an infinite supply. In January 2021, there were 113.5 million tokens in circulation. As of April 2022, there are roughly 120 million.

What is better than Bitcoin? ›

If you're thinking of investing in cryptocurrencies, you're probably already considering Bitcoin. But other coins, like Ethereum, Ripple, Litecoin, Cardano, Binance Coin, Polkadot, Solana, and Avalanche are strong options for diversifying your crypto portfolio.

Who owns the most Ethereum? ›

Top 10 Owners of Grayscale Ethereum Trust (ETH)
StockholderStakeShares owned
Parkwood LLC0.26%790,000
Rye Brook Capital LLC0.10%304,200
Rothschild Investment Corp.0.08%250,574
Benedetti & Gucer, Inc.0.02%70,491
6 more rows

Will Ethereum overtake Bitcoin? ›

This price is expected to rise in the on-coming year (2022), with quite a few experts in finance and cryptocurrency believing that ether will overtake bitcoin.

Is Ripple worth investing in now? ›

XRP has gained the trust of both financial institutions and investors, which could make it a more reliable, stable investment than some other alt-coins. Additionally, XRP has a finite number of coins, unlike some other cryptocurrencies, where tokens are constantly being created and mined.

Is buying Ripple A Good investment? ›

Thus, XRP is an excellent choice for a thematic investor who buys digital currencies based on a top-down investment approach to diversify their portfolio. XRP's low price has opened up an affordable entry and investment opportunity with higher returns.

Is Ripple The Best crypto? ›

If you're looking for a low-cost way to begin investing in cryptocurrency, XRP might be a good option due to its growth potential. Be prepared for the coin to dip or spike sharply based on the final SEC court judgement.

Which crypto is better than Bitcoin? ›

Ethereum leverages blockchain technology for its decentralized, transparent system. The technology enables functionality beyond digital currency, such as decentralized applications and smart contracts. The developer community is one of the largest. The Ethereum platform processes transactions faster than Bitcoin.

Will banks use XRP? ›

Many international banks are integrated into RippleNet. Any bank joining the network can access several other banks to trade with. Therefore, XRP offers market access to participating banks and their customers.

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