As investor sentiment begins to shift and capital exits XRP in search of higher-growth opportunities, a new wave of projects is beginning to attract serious attention. Here are three tokens that are becoming strong candidates for capital rotation. Each of these tokens represents a distinct area of the cryptocurrency world.
Little Pepe (LILPEPE): The Meme Coin That’s Redefining the Game
If there’s one project capturing both retail excitement and serious investor curiosity, it’s Little Pepe (LILPEPE). Built as a Layer-2 blockchain dedicated to memes, LILPEPE combines the fun and virality of meme culture with genuine utility and infrastructure-level innovation. At the time of writing, the project is in Stage 13 of its presale, with tokens priced at $0.0022. The project features zero buy/sell tax, sniper-bot protection, and ultra-fast, low-cost transactions, all while building a Layer-2 network optimized for meme projects.
But what really sets Little Pepe apart is its community strategy. The team has launched both a $777K Giveaway and a Mega Giveaway worth over 15 ETH for presale participants between stages 12 and 17. These campaigns have attracted hundreds of thousands of participants, driving viral growth. With the final listing price set at $0.0030, current presale buyers still have a 36.36% upside before launch, while early-stage investors have already seen 120% gains. Analysts forecast that LILPEPE could deliver 25x–45x returns by early 2026, especially as its exchange listings and Meme Launchpad go live. As XRP investors look for more agile, community-driven plays with upside potential, Little Pepe stands out as one of the most exciting tokens of this market cycle.
NEAR Protocol (NEAR): The Developer’s Choice for Web3 Scalability
As a result of its ability to enable thousands of decentralized applications across DeFi, gaming, and AI integration, NEAR Protocol (NEAR) is expected to remain a favorite among developers in 2025. Institutional partnerships and ecosystem grants have fueled NEAR’s growth. Transaction volumes and total value locked (TVL) have steadily climbed through Q4 2025, even as much of the broader market consolidated.
As institutional capital continues to seek reliable, developer-centric blockchains, NEAR presents a clear alternative to XRP — offering a scalable, future-proof infrastructure layer that can underpin real-world applications beyond cross-border payments. Analysts project NEAR could climb toward $3.50–$4.20 by mid-2026 if current adoption trends persist. For long-term investors, NEAR represents a bet on the evolution of Web3 infrastructure, a theme that is increasingly attractive to both retail and institutional investors, who are exiting slower-moving legacy projects.
Ethena (ENA): The DeFi Powerhouse Bridging Yield and Stability
Ethena (ENA) is another standout beneficiary of capital rotation from Ripple, combining the stability of traditional finance with the innovation of decentralized yield. The project operates USDe, a synthetic dollar designed to provide users with stable, yield-bearing exposure to crypto markets — without relying on fiat-backed collateral. Trading around $0.65, Ethena has already achieved a $3.2 billion market capitalization. In recent months, the project has seen over $750 million in inflows, signaling a significant wave of institutional and whale interest.
Ethena’s rise reflects a broader market shift toward DeFi protocols that feel institutional-grade yet remain decentralized. With partnerships across Anchorage, major trading desks, and yield protocols, Ethena is fast becoming a cornerstone of decentralized financial infrastructure. Experts believe ENA could experience 5–10 times growth by 2026 if the synthetic dollar narrative continues to expand. For XRP holders seeking exposure to DeFi yield generation and stablecoin-backed innovation, Ethena represents a natural next step.
Conclusion
While XRP remains a key player in cross-border settlement, its growth narrative has slowed. The projects above — combining innovation, community, and next-generation infrastructure — represent where the smart money is flowing now. As a result of Little Pepe (LILPEPE) being at the forefront of both cultural and technological advancements, the subsequent wave of cryptocurrency money may very well be meme-driven, lightning-fast, and unstoppable.