Ripple, Cardano, and PlutoChain Rush In The Next Wave of Blockchain Innovation

The year may be coming to an end, but not the bull run. Ripple and Cardano continue to make headlines with their ecosystem updates. These highly scalable blockchains question the status quo and could reshape the current network rankings in the upcoming months.

2022 was a volatile year for most altcoins, but the future holds much promise. Seasoned industry players know that the current market dip is merely an appealing entry opportunity rather than the end of the bullish cycle.

In addition to established projects, a newcomer, PlutoChain (PLUTO), could capture the broader community's attention, analysts, and developers with its Layer-2 solution for Bitcoin.

Let's see why.

PlutoChain (PLUTO) Launches Layer-2 Testnet with 2-Second Block Times Compared to Bitcoin's 10 Minutes

PlutoChain (PLUTO) could bring smart contracts to Bitcoin through its proprietary Layer-2 solution. This potentially enables direct deployment of decentralized applications (dApps) on the world's leading blockchain. Its EVM compatibility also allows developers to port applications between Bitcoin and Ethereum ecosystems and access a combined market worth over $2.3 trillion.

Moreover, Bitcoin's slow transaction processing (10 minutes on average) and high transaction costs limit its practical applications in decentralized finance (DeFi) and everyday transactions. PlutoChain's Layer-2 solution offers 2-second confirmation times on its own blockchain, potentially providing a faster alternative for transactions while leveraging Bitcoin's foundational security principles.

Recently, the project launched its public devnet with Blockscout block explorer integration. Through Blockscout, users can analyze transactions and addresses on the PlutoChain network.

PlutoChain's testnet already demonstrates significant scaling potential. Currently, it processes 43,000 daily transactions, roughly 10% of Bitcoin's daily transaction volume, and there's room for further growth. The block time averages just two seconds, 300x faster than on the Bitcoin mainnet.

PlutoChain puts decision-making power in the hands of its community through a transparent governance system. Early adopers can vote on key development decisions, which ensures direct participation in the network's evolution. The latest proposal, PIP 03, was focused on enhancing the ecosystem's security through regular penetration testing.

Multiple top-tier auditors, including Assure DeFi, SolidProof, and QuillAudits, have checked PlutoChain's security infrastructure and confirmed there are no critical vulnerabilities.

Ripple (XRP) Draws Institutional Attention and Targets $5 in 2025

XRP price fell from $2.73 to $1.97 this week after BTC dipped below the $95,000 mark. However, XRP has since rebounded to $2.22 and will soon retest the $2.50 resistance zone.

Long-term XRP holders remain optimistic and highlight that XRP was trading at $0.49 just six weeks ago. Many in the XRP community view the current dip as an opportunity and set the next price target at $5.

Bloomberg analysts expect the Securities and Exchange Commission to list XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in 2025. If XRP ETFs follow in BTC ETF's footsteps, they could boost institutional demand and potentially increase the token's value.

Although XRP has its fair share of critics, including Messari founder Ryan Selkis, recent developments in the Ripple ecosystem suggest the token could see more upside. Ripple's new stablecoin RLUSD appears to be a strong competitor to USDT and USDC. Meanwhile, partnerships with investment firms Archax and Abrdn could accelerate XRP Ledger's adoption.

Cardano (ADA) Witnesses High Whale Demand, Could Reach $4

Analytics firm Santiment placed Cardano fifth among all blockchain networks based on development activity in the past month, outpaced only by Internet Computer, Hedera, Chainlink, and Starknet. Cardano's native token ADA now is the ninth-leading cryptocurrency with a $30.9 billion market cap and a 47% year-to-date price increase.

On-chain data reveals a strong demand for ADA among whales. The number of large transactions grew by 2.8% within the last 24 hours. Over 70% of ADA holders have been holding it for at least a year, which indicates their belief in the project's long-term potential.

Beyond whale activity, ADA could benefit from the latest upgrades of the Cardano ecosystem, such as the Hydra scaling solution. Analyst Ali Martinez predicts ADA to potentially reach $4 in early 2025.

Ripple, Cardano, and PlutoChain Rush In The Next Wave of Blockchain Innovation

The year may be coming to an end, but not the bull run. Ripple and Cardano continue to make headlines with their ecosystem updates. These highly scalable blockchains question the status quo and could reshape the current network rankings in the upcoming months.

In contrast, the Layer-2 solution PlutoChain could resolve the shortcomings of existing networks that still dominate the market, Bitcoin and Ethereum.

This project could potentially attract new users and developers to the Bitcoin ecosystem, thanks to its smart contract support