Ripple (XRP) isn’t the play for 2025: 5 cheaper tokens to invest in instead
Ripple’s XRP may continue to command headlines, but it hardly represents the most compelling opportunity. Its relative maturity and widespread adoption have pushed potential gains into a more modest zone. Meanwhile, several under-the-radar and mid-tier tokens offer asymmetric upside—if their narratives, technology, and momentum align. Below are five alternative tokens that may offer stronger growth potential than XRP over the coming year: Little Pepe , Pump.fun, Flare, Ondo, and Cardano. 1. Little Pepe (LILPEPE) Little Pepe has emerged as the theatrical front-runner in the race for explosive returns. As of Stage 13 of its presale, each token is priced at approximately $0.0022, and the project has already raised over $26 million, selling more than 16.2 billion tokens across stages. What sets Little Pepe apart is its ambition to combine meme energy with meaningful infrastructure. Unlike purely speculative tokens, LILPEPE is being built atop a custom Ethereum-compatible Layer-2 chain engineered for speed, low fees, and meme launch economies. Because the token is still in presale and dominantly undervalued by listing expectations, early backers may enjoy multiples far beyond what XRP could offer in the same timeframe. Analysts and traders increasingly view LILPEPE as a candidate for 20x to 100x or more growth if execution and sentiment align. 2. Pump.fun (PUMP) Pump.fun occupies a distinct niche as the infrastructure plays in the meme economy. It is a Solana-based launchpad dedicated to meme coins, giving it inherent leverage whenever new speculative projects debut. The more meme coins are launched and traded via its platform, the more value accrues to PUMP itself. In 2025, projections place PUMP in a volatile price channel, with some forecasts targeting upwards of $0.0154 in optimistic scenarios. Its recent listing on key exchanges and buyback campaigns have added fuel to its upward momentum. While it does not carry the same presale leverage as LILPEPE, PUMP offers exposure to the meme-launch utility wave, and its growth is tied to the volume and frequency of new token launches. 3. Flare (FLR) Flare may seem more traditional than meme coins, yet it holds upside potential rooted in its ecosystem, smart contract capabilities, and offshoot use cases. Forecasts suggest FLR might reach average prices of $0.0599 to $0.07 by the end of 2025. The value proposition lies in combining decentralized finance, cross-chain bridging, and protocol expansion. Because FLR is more mature and less speculative, it is less likely to deliver 100x returns in a flash, but it offers a cleaner risk-reward tradeoff compared to XRP. For investors who want serious upside without the extreme volatility of pure memes, Flare stands as a compelling mid-tier alternative. 4. Ondo (ONDO) Ondo operates in a niche bridging real-world assets to crypto, governance, and yield protocols. While not typically cast in the meme coin spotlight, its internal tokenomics and growth trajectory make it a candidate for outsized returns when DeFi cycles reaccelerate. Some projections even place ONDO in the range of $0.96 or higher in bullish scenarios. The appeal here is that ONDO straddles the line between established DeFi and speculative upside, giving it hidden potential that’s easier to scale than XRP’s large base. If markets rotate toward yield, composability, and real-world integrations, ONDO is poised to benefit more aggressively than a mature, already priced token like XRP. 5. Cardano (ADA) Cardano carries a long legacy, a robust developer community, and ongoing upgrades. While many view ADA as a large-cap stalwart, that status works against explosive multiple potential. However, ADA still offers leverage—particularly if upcoming protocol enhancements, partnerships, or scaling breakthroughs deliver renewed excitement. With lower price entry points than Ripple, ADA’s upside is more accessible to speculative capital. For those unwilling to join the meme coin fray but still seeking growth beyond XRP, ADA may offer just enough upside. Its upgrade roadmap, if realized, could spark rallies that outpace XRP’s incremental gains. Strategic outlook Ripple retains value as a more stable, regulated play in the crypto landscape. It may continue to capture yield, institutional flows, or use‐case gains. Yet in a year where explosive upside is the mission, those five tokens offer more asymmetric return profiles. Investors seeking to dethrone XRP’s return ceiling in 2025 should consider tilting exposure toward these underpriced assets. A portfolio that combines speculative upside (LILPEPE, PUMP) with mid-core growth (FLR, ONDO, ADA) can capture the momentum that XRP alone may not deliver. For more information about Little Pepe (LILPEPE) visit the links below: Website: https://littlepepe.com Whitepaper: https://littlepepe.com/whitepaper.pdf Telegram: https://t.me/littlepepetoken Twitter/X: https://x.com/littlepepetoken The post Ripple (XRP) isn’t the play for 2025: 5 cheaper tokens to invest in instead appeared first on Invezz