XRP rose 22% this week, sparking speculation among the trading community and influential figures that it may soon surpass Ethereum (ETH) in market capitalization. With the current price of ETH at $3,203, XRP would need to rise to $6.75 per token (a 134% increase from its current value of $2.94) to surpass Ethereum's market capitalization of $397 billion. XRP's current market cap is around $164 billion, a difference of $233 billion compared to Ethereum. In 2018, XRP temporarily surpassed Ethereum to become the world's second-largest cryptocurrency. DonAlt, a well-known cryptocurrency trader with 646,000 followers, posted on X (previously Twitter): 'I think XRP, seriously, could temporarily surpass Ethereum or even BTC if things get crazy.' XRP surpassed Tether (USDT) earlier this month to become the third-largest cryptocurrency. The token's recent rise has exceeded that of Ethereum, BTC, and Solana, with XRP rising 433% since November while Ethereum rose 27% during the same period. This potential 'flip' echoes the enthusiasm of ETH supporters who hoped for Ethereum to one day surpass BTC's market capitalization, a milestone that is still difficult to achieve. XRP last surpassed Ethereum in January 2018 during the previous bull market. Several factors have recently driven the rise in XRP's price: Changes in SEC leadership: Gary Gensler, the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), is expected to resign, triggering optimism regarding the resolution of the ongoing legal battle between the regulatory agency and Ripple. Market observers believe that under new leadership, the SEC's refusal to appeal or settle could greatly improve XRP's prospects. Ripple's business expansion: Ripple has strengthened its recruitment efforts in the United States, with CEO Brad Garlinghouse noting an increase in local business growth. Garlinghouse believes that this momentum is driven by the potential policy changes towards cryptocurrency under the Trump administration. Positive market sentiment: XRP's performance has attracted retail investors and institutional follow. However, analysts at JPMorgan warned in a recent memo that demand for XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) may not be as strong as expected, predicting inflows of around $8 billion, far lower than the funds attracted by BTC and Ethereum ETFs.