NOIDA (CoinChapter.com) — Monero (XMR) has emerged as the top-performing major cryptocurrency in 2025, outshining nearly every other top 35 asset. As of late April, XMR boasts an impressive 18.3% year-to-date (YTD) gain, easily outpacing Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. In stark contrast, Ripple’s XRP token has managed only a modest 5.22% YTD increase, despite multiple bullish catalysts that should have triggered stronger price momentum.
While Bitcoin and Ethereum have stabilized near their highs, their YTD returns remain relatively muted compared to Monero’s quiet but decisive rally. Even XRP, which recently benefited from the final settlement of its years-long SEC lawsuit and secured major exchange listings for futures contracts on platforms like CME and Coinbase, has failed to deliver significant gains. XRP’s subdued price action points to lingering skepticism or market fatigue, even as broader crypto sentiment improves.
Meanwhile, Monero’s success reflects not just bullish technicals, but also fundamental growth. XMR’s appeal has been reinforced by new fiat on-ramp integrations, broader global acceptance, and rising demand for privacy in an increasingly regulated financial environment. As traders search for assets poised to outperform amid shifting macro conditions, Monero’s consistent upward trajectory positions it as a clear standout moving into the second half of 2025.
XRP Struggles Despite Big News; Monero Quietly Outperforms
Despite several major positive developments, Ripple’s XRP token has struggled to sustain any meaningful bull run in 2025. Ripple’s landmark SEC settlement in March, resolving years of litigation for $50 million, should have removed a key overhang.
Soon after, CME announced plans to launch XRP futures contracts, further bolstered by Coinbase’s decision to list XRP perpetuals for U.S. users. Together, these milestones brought regulatory clarity and new institutional access, laying the groundwork for what many expected to be a strong XRP breakout.
However, XRP’s market reaction has been lukewarm at best. The token’s YTD gains stand at a relatively tame 5.22%, underwhelming compared to the bullish setup. Even as broader crypto markets stabilized and some altcoins posted double-digit rallies, XRP remained largely rangebound.
In contrast, Monero has quietly delivered one of the strongest performances among major cryptocurrencies this year. A key catalyst was its integration with Alchemy Pay in April 2025, which made XMR easily purchasable using fiat currencies. This streamlined access lowered the barriers for retail and privacy-focused users alike, fueling steady buying interest.
Further strengthening its position, Monero expanded its global footprint through partnerships like Edge Wallet’s full XMR support. Merchant adoption has also accelerated, making XMR more practical for everyday transactions.
Beyond integrations, Monero’s focus on privacy, powered by Ring Signatures, Stealth Addresses, and RingCT, has reinforced its appeal when financial surveillance fears are rising.
Combined with steady growth in hashrate, node activity, and decentralized exchange usage, Monero’s fundamentals have stayed resilient. The growing ecosystem, coupled with strategic partnerships, has enabled XMR to capture upside momentum that XRP, despite regulatory wins, has yet to achieve.
Bull Pennant on Monero Hints at $370 Breakout Potential
Meanwhile, the XMR USD pair has formed a textbook bull pennant pattern—typically a continuation formation that appears after a sharp upward move. In this case, the strong rally from under $150 to over $230 earlier in 2025 formed the pole, followed by a period of narrowing consolidation that defines the pennant itself.
Converging trendlines that slope slightly downward or move horizontally characterize the pattern, indicating temporary indecision after a strong advance. Crucially, the pattern forms as volume declines during the consolidation phase, which supports the idea of a pending breakout. Though this chart lacks volume data, the clean technical structure remains valid.
The theoretical price target is calculated by measuring the height of the flagpole—the vertical distance from the pattern’s base to the start of consolidation. This yields a projected breakout move. Adding that to the breakout point results in a projected price target for the pattern. For XMR price, the theoretical price target is near $370, marking a spike of 62% from current levels.
If XMR breaks above the upper trendline with volume confirmation, the bullish pennant setup could play out swiftly. A successful breakout would likely attract technical traders and reinforce Monero’s position as the top-performing major privacy coin in 2025.
Moreover, XMR price has often mirrored Bitcoin rallies. Given that Bitcoin is likely to attracting institutional interest through ETFs, a rally would in BTC prices would likely buoy Monero too.