XRP vs Ethereum: 12 months, side by side.
In the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, XRP fell 41.0% and Ethereum 34.7%: XRP lost 6.2 percentage points more than Ethereum. They swung about as hard as each other, and their daily moves lined up closely (correlation 0.83).
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How much each one swung
XRP and Ethereum were about equally volatile: 64.9% and 62.1% annualized. Ethereum moved more than 5% in a day 37 times, XRP 36 times. Their typical days were close in size: a median move of 1.63% for XRP and 1.60% for Ethereum. Their worst day was the same, Feb 5, 2026: XRP fell 19.7% and Ethereum 14.9%. The day they parted most was a rally for both, Aug 20, 2026, but XRP rose 14.7% and Ethereum only 3.3%.
| Measure | XRP | Ethereum |
|---|---|---|
| Close on Oct 10, 2025 | $2.37 | $3,837 |
| Close on Oct 10, 2026 | $1.40 | $2,504 |
| 1-year change | -41.0% | -34.7% |
| Annualized volatility | 64.9% | 62.1% |
| Median daily move | 1.63% | 1.60% |
| Days with a move over 5% | 36 | 37 |
| Best day | +21.2%, Feb 6, 2026 | +17.5%, Aug 19, 2026 |
| Worst day | -19.7%, Feb 5, 2026 | -14.9%, Feb 5, 2026 |
| Maximum drawdown | -62.5% | -63.1% |
| Lowest close | $0.9925, Aug 16, 2026 | $1,565, Jun 25, 2026 |
| Days that closed higher | 156 of 365 | 182 of 365 |
| $500, one buy | $295.07 | $326.29 |
| $500, 52 weekly buys | $476.98 | $538.10 |
How closely XRP and Ethereum moved together
Their daily moves were closely linked, with a correlation of 0.83. They closed in the same direction on 301 of the 365 days and in opposite directions on 64. On average Ethereum moved 0.79% for every 1% move in XRP, a smaller reaction than one for one.
Ethereum had the better day more often than XRP: on 207 of the 365 days. $500 in each, bought on Oct 10, 2025 and held, ended at $295.07 in XRP and $326.29 in Ethereum. The lead changed hands during the year: the XRP holding was ahead by up to 22% on Nov 24, 2025, and behind by up to 21% on Aug 19, 2026. Ethereum also did better in seven of the 11 full months. They differed most in July 2026, a month that went the same way for both: XRP +2.1%, Ethereum +18.5%.
The deepest falls
Their deepest falls were almost equally deep: XRP 62.5% from Oct 26, 2025 to Aug 16, 2026, Ethereum 63.1% from Oct 13, 2025 to Jun 25, 2026. Ethereum bottomed first, on Jun 25, 2026. XRP kept falling for another 52 days, to Aug 16, 2026. By Oct 10, 2026, XRP was 47.1% below its 12-month high and Ethereum 41.0% below its own.
Next to the other 17 comparisons
- Ranked by correlation, from most to least linked, this pair came eighth of 18.
- Ranked by how far apart the two 1-year results were, it came fifteenth of 18.
- By the difference in volatility between the two coins, it ranked fifteenth of the 18 pairs.
$500 in each: one buy or 52 weekly buys
Spreading the $500 over 52 weekly buys beat a single buy on Oct 10, 2025 for both coins: almost every weekly buy, 49 for XRP and 49 for Ethereum, came below the starting price. Only the Ethereum test ended above $500 ($538.10); the XRP one finished at $476.98. Ethereum's weekly test finished $61.12 ahead of XRP's.
XRP, one buy
$295.07
-41.0%
211 XRP at $2.37.
XRP, 52 weekly buys
$476.98
-4.6%
Average cost $1.47 per XRP.
Ethereum, one buy
$326.29
-34.7%
0.13 ETH at $3,837.
Ethereum, 52 weekly buys
$538.10
+7.6%
Average cost $2,327 per ETH.
Method: Kraken daily closes (UTC) from Oct 10, 2025 to Oct 10, 2026, one buy of $500 at the first close or $500 / 52 at every seventh close, both valued at the last close with no fees. Other amounts: DCA calculator.
What sets XRP and Ethereum apart
XRP and Ethereum were built for different purposes. The XRP Ledger focuses on fast, cheap payments and currency exchange, and Ripple, a US company, uses XRP in its cross-border payment products. Ethereum is a general platform for smart contracts that run apps, tokens and stablecoins. All 100 billion XRP already exist, while new ETH is issued to stakers and part of every fee is burned.
XRP has often moved on news about Ripple and its court case with the SEC. Ethereum moves more on activity in DeFi and stablecoins and on its own network upgrades, such as the Merge to proof of stake in 2022.
Each coin's full year: XRP trading simulator and Ethereum trading simulator.
How to compare XRP and Ethereum in Staxo
- Step 1
Find both in the Market tab
XRP and Ethereum are both among the 10 coins on Staxo's free plan, so you can trade them with the $500 in demo money you start with, using market orders and up to 10 trades a day.
- Step 2
Buy the same amount of each
Put $100 into each at the same moment. They swung about equally over the last year, so on most days the two positions should move by similar amounts.
- Step 3
Check them side by side
Open your Portfolio once a day and count the days the two positions go opposite ways. Over the last 12 months that happened on 64 of 365 days, often enough to notice within two weeks.
- Step 4
Read the RSI on both charts
The coin screen shows the RSI(14) on the free plan. Over the last year Ethereum had more oversold days, below 30, than XRP (22 against 13). Staxo Pro adds MACD, Bollinger Bands and candlestick charts, plus short selling and leverage at 1x, 2x and 5x.
XRP vs Ethereum questions
Which was more volatile, XRP or Ethereum?
Neither by much. From Oct 10, 2025 to Oct 10, 2026 their annualized volatility was 64.9% for XRP and 62.1% for Ethereum, and their deepest falls were 62.5% and 63.1%.
Do XRP and Ethereum move together?
Mostly. The correlation of their daily returns was 0.83 over the 365 days to Oct 10, 2026 (1 means always together), and 64 days went in opposite directions.
Which did better over the last 12 months, XRP or Ethereum?
Ethereum lost less: -34.7% against -41.0% for XRP from Oct 10, 2025 to Oct 10, 2026. $500 in 52 weekly buys ended at $476.98 in XRP and $538.10 in Ethereum. That describes the past year only and says nothing about which will do better next.
More comparisons
Trade XRP and Ethereum with $500 in demo money.
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Educational content, not investment advice. The figures describe prices from Oct 10, 2025 to Oct 10, 2026 and say nothing about which coin does better next. Staxo is a simulator: you practice with demo money, never real money.