---
title: "Ripple, the Fourth-Largest Cryptocurrency, Just Passed a Major Milestone"
description: "Cryptocurrencies seem to be at an all-time high in terms of popularity and market value. Recently, Ripple passed a dollar in value for the first time."
date: "2017-12-23"
modified: "2018-02-19"
authors:
  - name: "Chelsea Gohd"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/chelseagohd"
url: "https://futurism.com/ripple-passed-major-milestone"
categories:
  - "Bitcoin"
  - "Blockchain"
  - "Cryptocurrency"
  - "Future Society"
tags:
  - "bitcoin"
  - "cryptocurrency"
  - "ripple"
  - "xrp"
---

# Ripple, the Fourth-Largest Cryptocurrency, Just Passed a Major Milestone

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/ripple-coin-6333721.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: \<a href="https://ripple.com/insights/fundamentals-of-xrp/" target="\_blank"\>Ripple\</a\>\</em\>*

## Ripple Passed a Dollar

In the cryptocurrency game, it can seem as though Bitcoin rules all, but other cryptos are finding success as well. In the most recent news, the fourth-largest cryptocurrency just [hit a major milestone](<https://www.coindesk.com/ripple-price-passes-historic-1-milestone/>) — Ripple passed a dollar for the first time.

According to CoinMarketCap data, [the price of Ripple's XRP token peaked at $1.37](<https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/ripple/>) on Dec. 22, though it has since fallen to $1.16 at the time of this writing. This news is on the tail end of Ripple's recent successes, both [in rising almost 4,000 percent in value](<https://futurism.com/the-third-largest-cryptocurrency-ripples-xrp-up-almost-4000-in-second-quarter>) in its second quarter and in being [added to the Bloomberg Terminal](<https://futurism.com/three-more-cryptocurrencies-arrive-bloomberg-terminal>).

![Crypto market capitalizations as of a few months ago. Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons. ](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/crypto.png>)
*Crypto market capitalizations as of a few months ago. Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons.*

Rising above a dollar might not seem like a big deal, especially compared to [Bitcoin's current value](<https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/bitcoin/>) (at the time of writing) of $15,140. But, while Bitcoin has had a remarkably meteoric year, the success of Ripple and its XRP token is both impressive and significant.

## Crypto Progress

These most recent price increases seem to be driven specifically by markets in Asia, [according to *CoinDesk*](<https://www.coindesk.com/ripple-price-passes-historic-1-milestone/>)*.* Within the South Korean exchange Bithumb, trading volumes increased by nearly a whopping 25 percent in the 24 hours surrounding Ripple's surge. Additionally, Bitfinex, a Hong Kong-based exchange, saw trading volumes grow more than 10 percent.

Ripple's recent achievement make it a more serious contender in the cryptocurrency market.[ It cruised right past ](<https://www.cnbc.com/video/2017/12/13/ripples-xrp-just-hit-a-new-record-high-flying-past-litecoins-market-value.html>)[litecoin](<https://www.cnbc.com/video/2017/12/13/ripples-xrp-just-hit-a-new-record-high-flying-past-litecoins-market-value.html>) in terms of market value, and it could continue to rise in value and popularity. Additionally, Ripple's market cap stands at $41 billion, which is also a record high.

Ripple's success is a success for all cryptocurrencies and the future of crypto. Initially, even heavyweight contenders like Bitcoin were, and sometimes still are, dismissed. But many who initially skeptical of Bitcoin are now [seeing value in the cryptocurrency market](<https://scotcoinproject.com/news/jamie-dimons-company-changes-its-mind/>) and the true potential that it has not only to make money for investors, but to revolutionize transactions if, in the future, our finances run on a blockchain.

*Disclosure: Several members of the Futurism team, including the editors of this piece, are personal investors in a number of cryptocurrency markets. Their personal investment perspectives have no impact on editorial content.*

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/chelsea_gohd>)