XRP Price Prediction: As XRP's Spot ETF Debut Fizzles, Is AlphaPepe the Meme Coin to Watch?

The long-awaited XRP spot ETF finally launched in the U.S. - and on paper, it looked like a landmark moment. The Canary Capital XRP ETF (ticker XRPC) opened with eye-catching volume and sizable day-one inflows, fueling hopes that institutional demand would ignite a powerful new rally in XRP.

Instead, the price reaction has been underwhelming. Since the ETF debut, XRP has actually fallen, slipping from the mid-$2.30s to around $2.25-$2.30 https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/xrp/, and remains more than 35% below its July all-time high near $3.65. For many investors, the launch has started to look less like a catalyst and more like a classic "sell-the-news" event.

At the same time, the broader crypto market is stuck in extreme fear. Bitcoin is trading around the mid-$90,000s after a heavy correction, and liquidity across altcoins has thinned. Yet in this shaky environment, retail and even some whales are rotating into something very different: a meme-coin presale called AlphaPepe (ALPE) that is building real momentum while XRP's ETF afterglow fades.

XRP's Spot ETF: Big Volume, Flat Price

The Canary XRPC ETF's launch grabbed headlines for all the right reasons at first. It posted some of the strongest opening-day volume of any crypto ETF in 2025 and saw meaningful net inflows, signaling that institutions were at least willing to test the waters on a regulated XRP product.

But the excitement didn't translate into sustained price appreciation. XRP dropped more than 7% during the ETF's first trading session and spent the next several days under continued pressure. By the end of the week, XRPC's trading volume had already shrunk sharply from its opening levels, suggesting that early activity was driven more by short-term positioning than long-term accumulation.

That disconnect - strong launch metrics but weak price - has left many investors questioning how much of the ETF impact was already priced in and how much fresh demand it can genuinely unlock in a market dominated by macro headwinds and risk aversion.

XRP Price Outlook: Cautious Path Toward $3-$4

At the time of writing, XRP trades around $2.25-$2.30, with buyers consistently defending the $2.20 area. Short-term resistance has formed between $2.45-$2.50, a zone XRP has tested but failed to break cleanly since the ETF launch.

Technically, analysts see XRP caught between two narratives. On the downside, a break below $2.20 could open the door to a deeper retest toward the high-$1 range, especially if Bitcoin continues to struggle and ETF flows cool further. On the upside, maintaining support above $2.20 while reclaiming $2.50-$2.60 could set up a renewed push toward the psychological $3 level.

Mid-term forecasts from more measured analysts tend to cluster in the $3-$4 region over the next 12-24 months, provided that:

ETF inflows stabilize and begin to grow again rather than reverse.

Ripple's payments network continues expanding and driving real uses of XRP.

The broader crypto market exits extreme fear and returns to a neutral or bullish regime.

In other words, XRP still has a credible structural case for higher prices - but the spot ETF launch alone wasn't enough to kick-start that move.

From Utility to Hype: Why Attention Is Shifting to AlphaPepe

While XRP's story is increasingly defined by regulation, ETF flows, and macro forces, retail traders are gravitating back toward an old driver of crypto cycles: meme coins.

This time, however, the meme-coin at the center of attention isn't a listed token - it's a presale. AlphaPepe (ALPE) https://alphapepe.io/, built on BNB Chain, is quietly becoming one of the most active presales in the market, even in the middle of a bearish macro backdrop.

AlphaPepe is not just riding on branding; its presale model has been designed to answer many of the trust issues that plagued prior meme-coin cycles. Investors receive tokens instantly upon purchase, meaning there is no ambiguous waiting period before allocations show up in their wallets. That alone is a major confidence boost at a time when transparency is at a premium.

On top of instant delivery, AlphaPepe's staking is already live during the presale, letting holders earn rewards before the token ever hits an exchange. Its USDT reward pool has passed $3,500, demonstrating that real payouts are flowing, not just promised. The project has also undergone a full contract audit with a top score and has committed to locking liquidity at launch, reducing common rug-pull fears.

The most striking detail: AlphaPepe is nearing 3,700 holders, with over 100 new wallets joining daily - and this is happening during a bear market. Analysts and community trackers report that not only retail, but also whales are quietly buying into the presale, staking positions despite the risk-off sentiment that's hurting most large caps.

Why AlphaPepe Is Becoming the Meme Coin to Watch

Analysts who follow early-stage community tokens highlight three reasons AlphaPepe is emerging as the meme coin to watch:

First, its design is participation-focused. Investors can act immediately - buy, receive tokens, stake, refer others, and see results on-chain in real time. That sense of agency is powerful when the rest of the market feels largely out of retail control.

Second, AlphaPepe's presale pricing is insulated from exchange volatility. While XRP, BTC, and other majors swing with every macro headline, ALPE's presale price remains fixed through its stages, giving participants a clearer view of their entry point.

Third, its community momentum is accelerating during a downturn, not a rally - which often signals genuine conviction rather than speculative froth. The fact that whales are entering positions while markets are fearful suggests AlphaPepe is being treated as a strategic early-stage bet, not a short-lived gamble.

How XRP and AlphaPepe Fit Into a 2025 Strategy

For many investors, XRP and AlphaPepe are starting to occupy complementary roles rather than competing ones.

XRP is the utility and institutional story - backed by real-world use cases, ETF infrastructure, and large-scale payment integration. Its path toward $3-$4 is likely to be shaped by regulation, macro conditions, and ongoing adoption.

AlphaPepe is the community and momentum story - driven by presale engagement, meme culture, and verifiable on-chain mechanics. Its trajectory will be defined by the strength and growth of its holder base, the appeal of its staking and rewards, and its ability to sustain buzz beyond launch.

Together, they represent two fronts of the current crypto landscape: the establishment and the experiment. Both have roles in a diversified approach - but when it comes to pure buzz and grassroots energy, AlphaPepe clearly has the upper hand right now.

Conclusion

XRP's spot ETF launch was supposed to be a defining catalyst, but so far the market reaction has been muted. Price has slipped following the debut, and while analysts still see a credible path to $3-$4 over the medium term, the ETF itself did not deliver the instant breakout many hoped for.

In stark contrast, AlphaPepe (ALPE) has turned a bearish backdrop into a growth engine. With nearly 3,700 holders, instant token delivery, live staking, a growing USDT reward pool, full audit and liquidity protections - and even whales joining the presale despite the bear market - it has quickly become the meme coin to watch in early markets.

In a cycle defined by both institutional structures and retail narratives, XRP may be the token of regulated adoption - but AlphaPepe is rapidly becoming the symbol of where grassroots momentum is heading next.

Website: https://alphapepe.io/
Telegram: https://t.me/alphapepejoin
X: https://x.com/alphapepebsc

FAQs

What is XRP's current price?
XRP is trading around $2.25-$2.30, down from its July peak near $3.65 and under pressure despite the spot ETF launch.

Why did XRP fall after the ETF debut?
The launch appears to have been a classic sell-the-news event, with traders taking profits into strong volume while macro conditions remain weak.

What is AlphaPepe (ALPE)?
AlphaPepe is a meme-coin presale on BNB Chain offering instant token delivery, live staking, a growing USDT reward pool, and audit-backed security.

How many holders does AlphaPepe have?
AlphaPepe has over 3,600 holders and is quickly approaching 3,700, with 100+ new wallets joining daily.

Are whales investing in AlphaPepe?
Yes. Despite the bear market, larger investors are entering the presale, viewing AlphaPepe as a structured, early-stage opportunity with strong retail momentum.

AFFILIATE AVENUE LTD
128 City Road, London, England, EC1V 2NX
cs@coinfunnel.io
Jack Duffy

At CoinFunnel, we help blockchain projects and crypto startups grow their audience, increase adoption, and build community through strategic marketing.

This release was published on openPR.