Bitcoin set repeated price records during 2017. XRP, by contrast, recorded its sharpest advance only in the final quarter.
Ripple entered January 2017 at $0.006 per token after years of dormancy.
The first material move arrived in late March, when the price spiked to $0.02. A sustained climb followed through April but also May.
On 16 May 2017 XRP peaked at $0.40. Profit-taking drove the price lower, yet it stabilized near $0.20. Between late May and early December the token oscillated between $0.15 and $0.30, never revisiting the May summit.
Momentum returned after 7 December. On 13 December XRP printed $0.86. By 21 December it crossed $1.00.
American Express besides Santander revealed on 15 December that they would route selected cross border payments through RippleNet. The announcement coincided with the price surge.
Speculators interpreted the news as evidence that Ripple would shorten settlement times for remittances.
Cryptocurrency or Initial Coin Offering investments carry extreme risk. This article does not constitute investment advice. Consult a licensed professional before committing capital.