Cryptocurrency, or crypto for short, surged to all-time highs by the third quarter of 2025 as investor interest in major players like Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) peaked.
Volatility returned towards the end of the calendar year as sentiment cooled and risk appetites shifted. As a result, much of the huge gains seen earlier in the year were reversed by the 31st of December.
Bitcoin declined around 17% throughout 2025, XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) dropped around 30%, and Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE) dropped just over 70% in 2025.
As we move closer into the new year, among Bitcoin, XRP, and Dogecoin, which is the better buy for investors?
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The case for Bitcoin
In 2025, Bitcoin suffered the biggest price plummet seen since 2021. By November, the coin's value had dropped to around US$85,000 per coin. While Bitcoin regained some of that value in the weeks after, it slumped again in December. For context, Bitcoin peaked at US$124,739 per coin in early October.
So far in 2026, the cryptocurrency has climbed 4.92%, sparking excitement that it could be on a path for recovery.
Bitcoin is widely regarded as the global leader in the cryptocurrency market. It has a fixed supply, is experiencing growing institutional adoption, and is dominant in the cryptocurrency space.
The downside is that Bitcoin is less likely to be as explosive as some of the smaller cryptocurrencies. But as it is generally considered one of the most reliable coins to hold long term, it would be the best option for risk-averse, longer-term investors in 2026.
The case for XRP
XRP was one of the fastest-rising altcoins in 2025. It had explosive growth of over 56% in early July alone, rising to an annual high of US$3.65 per coin. It then tumbled just over 47% by the close of 2025.
In 2026, so far, XRP has recovered 16.29% of its value. At the time of writing, it is trading for US$2.14 per token.
XRP is known for being a fast and low-cost global payment. It acts as a bridge between different currencies, without the need for traditional banks. If the uptake of the technology continues in 2026, it has the potential to outperform major coins like Bitcoin.
The downside is that XRP comes with a lot more risk, so this is the best option for investors who want higher growth and have a larger appetite for risk.
The case for Dogecoin
Dogecoin was launched as a meme-based parody of Bitcoin in 2013 and has been a wildly volatile token ever since. It is primarily driven by sentiment, community support, and social media attention, rather than any fundamental factors.
There was a huge spike in interest from investors in late-2025 and early-2025, but over the year, the coin shed around 70% of its value.
So far in 2026, Dogecoin has jumped 24.44% to 15 cents per coin.
The benefits of this coin are that it can surge quickly. But it lacks the institutional backing that Bitcoin or XRP have, so it's a high-risk option most suited to short-term investors.
So which is the best option for investors?
There is no crystal ball to tell us how the crypto market will play out in 2026, so the answer to this question depends on an investors' risk appetite.
Bitcoin is a more reliable and stable play. Meanwhile, XRP has the potential to yield explosive returns to those willing to take on more risk, and Dogecoin is best suited for short-term traders.
