Ripple, Solana, Cardano: Are These Altcoins Set to Outperform Bitcoin in the Coming Months?

Crypto investors’ interest in leading altcoins and cryptocurrency market leader Bitcoin(BTC) is increasing rapidly.

Based on current crypto market trends, the Motley Fool recently spotlighted three cryptocurrencies as potential market front-runners: Solana (SOL), Ripple (XRP), and Cardano (ADA).

Solana has earned a strong reputation in the market, often hailed as the “next-generation Ethereum.”

As of December 22, Solana is the world’s sixth-largest cryptocurrency, with a market capitalization of about $87.4 billion. It has demonstrated impressive growth, surging about 80% this year alone. Solana-based ETFs and ETPs have already gained approval in Brazil and Europe, indicating their growing global demand.

While Solana supports smart contract networks like Ethereum, it has faster processing speeds and lower transaction fees. Endorsements from renowned investors like Cathie Wood of Ark Invest further bolster its potential.

Ripple has garnered attention by showing its resilience to regulatory risks. Following the U.S. presidential election, its value skyrocketed by over 280%. This surge reflects optimism about crypto-friendly policies under a potential second Trump administration and expectations that Ripple’s lawsuit with the SEC could conclude by 2025.

Ripple’s ETP is already trading in Europe, and its applications for approval of spot ETFs are underway in the United States. If the lawsuit with the SEC is closed and ETF approval is made, Ripple will likely open a new bull market. Ripple’s ability to maintain trading volumes between 2020 and 2021 despite regulations and litigation is a positive sign for investors. Cardano has built investor trust through consistent, stable growth over time. This year, it has appreciated by about 50% and is currently the ninth-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization. Cardano has expanded its developer ecosystem as a smart contract platform and maintained stable operations for over a decade. Given its relatively low regulatory risk and long-term growth potential, analysts suggest Cardano could surpass its previous peak of $3 with the approval of spot ETFs.

The Motley Fool identified Solana as the most promising of the three altcoins, evaluating it as having lower regulatory risks than Ripple and higher growth potential than Cardano. In particular, it has already been approved for ETFs in Brazil and Europe, which increases the likelihood of its U.S. approval. The precedent set by Bitcoin’s price surge following its ETF approval in 2021 suggests that Solana could experience similar gains if approved.