TLDR
- XRP holders stayed committed to the asset despite years of market downturn and regulatory challenges.
- The price of XRP surged nearly 600 percent between November 2024 and January 2025.
- XRP dropped 97 percent from its all-time high before making a strong recovery.
- The SEC lawsuit in December 2020 triggered a massive crash and widespread exchange delistings.
- XRP missed the 2021 bull run while most other cryptocurrencies posted new highs.
XRP holders endured years of prolonged setbacks before witnessing a massive rally that confirmed their unwavering commitment to the asset. Between November 2024 and January 2025, XRP led major cryptocurrencies with an almost 600% price increase. Market commentators now highlight this perseverance as a rare display of patience in the volatile crypto space.
XRP Holders Endure Losses and Legal Setbacks
After peaking in January 2018 with over 68,000% gains, XRP began a prolonged downtrend that erased most of its value. By March 2020, XRP had fallen 97% from its high, trading at only $0.1140. Despite this severe decline, XRP holders continued accumulating the asset and refused to capitulate.
In late 2020, XRP attempted a recovery, rising 177% in November before facing a major setback. The SEC lawsuit against Ripple launched in December and triggered a 67% crash that same month. This legal action caused several exchanges to halt XRP trading, adding more pressure on the asset.
XRP Missed the 2021 Bull Run
While other cryptocurrencies surged in 2021, XRP struggled to gain momentum due to regulatory uncertainty and reduced market confidence. XRP only reached $1.96 in April 2021, still far below its 2018 all-time high. As a result, XRP holders watched other assets rally while their own remained suppressed.
If patience was a token, $XRP holders would be billionaires already. 🧘♂️
— John Squire (@TheCryptoSquire) June 8, 2025
Nevertheless, XRP holders showed remarkable patience and resilience throughout the downturn. Despite missing out on the broader market rally, they continued to hold, hoping for a turnaround. This consistent belief in XRP’s long-term potential became a defining trait of the community.
Holder Growth Despite Market Setbacks
At XRP’s peak in January 2018, there were around 986,000 XRP holders in the market. This number steadily increased, even as prices dropped and uncertainty rose. By December 2022, over 3.53 million new holders had joined, reflecting confidence despite legal and price challenges.
Interestingly, the SEC lawsuit did not reduce interest in XRP but fueled more buying and long-term holding behaviour. New XRP holders entered during the height of regulatory pressure, seeing it as a buying opportunity. The trend only slowed following the Terra collapse in May 2022.
Now, with the 600% rally in early 2025, XRP holders believe the tide has turned in their favour. Analysts suggest more gains could follow, driven by historical price behaviour and renewed optimism. As some pundits suggest, if patience were a token, XRP holders would already be billionaires.
