The crypto market presents us with tough choices every day. Many investors are often unsure about which project to invest in. XLM and XRP tokens are two interesting digital assets. At the time of this writing, XRP token is trading at about $2.34, while XLM is trading at $0.28. 400 XRP tokens and 3,400 XLM tokens cost about the same in dollars, but they represent very different paths forward. Which of these assets has more potential to generate higher profits in the near future?
David Hepburn, a crypto analysts with over 13 thousand subscribers on Youtube breaks down the comparison between two significant blockchain projects that have shown impressive resilience in the cryptocurrency market. Both entry-level positions – 400 XRP or 3,400 XLM – represent approximately the same USD value, but choosing between them requires understanding their unique approaches and long-term visions.
Hepburn Sees XRP and XLM as Builders in a Hype-Driven Market
Hepburn challenges the metaphor that positions XLM token as the slow-but-steady turtle and Ripple as the flashy-but-unreliable hare. Instead, he suggests both cryptocurrencies are actually “turtles” – building methodically while the market’s attention is diverted toward trendy meme coins.
“Both cryptocurrencies are underestimated. Both are built for long-distance utility. Both are quietly making progress while the crowd cheers for flashier memes—memes that are liquid and created in thousands by the day,” Hepburn explains.
He emphasizes that these projects are focused on different but complementary goals. Ripple (XRP) is positioning itself around CBDCs, tokenization of assets, and becoming an institutional one-stop shop. Meanwhile, Stellar (XLM) is developing the world’s largest crypto-to-cash infrastructure.
Despite what holders might believe, social metrics for both XRP and XLM are near all-time lows, far from their peaks in late 2024. This underscores Hepburn’s point that these projects are quietly building rather than generating hype.
The Diverging Visions of XRP and XLM Token
Hepburn traces the shared origins of both projects, noting that Jed McCaleb co-founded Ripple before launching Stellar in 2014. Both were created to address Bitcoin’s limitations regarding transaction speed, cost, and scalability. However, he clarifies that XLM token is not a fork of XRP, as it launched its own chain with rebuilt code in 2015.
The fundamental difference between the projects, according to Hepburn, is their target audience and approach. He frames the distinction as “Wall Street versus Main Street.”
XRP is building “the highways for institutions,” focusing on upgrading the existing financial system from the top down. Their initiatives include developing CBDC platforms, partnering with central banks, integrating XRP for liquidity, and joining organizations like the Digital Euro Association to influence policy.
By contrast, XLM is building “the road for the people,” creating an alternative financial system from the bottom up. Their work includes tokenizing $3 billion in real-world assets, partnering with Mastercard for peer-to-peer remittances, and working with the United Nations to deliver cryptocurrency to refugees.
Hepburn suggests investors should choose based on their beliefs about the future of finance. Do you believe in high-value corridors or low-value remittances? Are you interested in regulatory narratives or quiet compliance adoption? Do you prefer a project with ETF potential like XRP? Do you want a cryptocurrency with a passionate following or one flying under the radar?
In Hepburn’s view, both cryptocurrencies check all the boxes for fundamentals and utility. The choice ultimately reflects which vision of the future you believe in and which gives you the conviction to hold through market downturns.
David Hepburn concludes that both cryptocurrencies are “underrated, undervalued compared to the real-world value,” suggesting that investing in both might be the optimal strategy.
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