Will XRP Reach a New All-Time High or Crash Below $2.50?

January 15 was the last day the SEC could appeal Judge Torres’ decision in favor of Ripple. For context, the SEC filed a lawsuit against Ripple

The SEC had until January 15 to appeal Judge Torres’ final decision in the Ripple case. The regulator wasted no time in filing an appeal, just before Gary Gensler left his position as SEC Chair on January 18.

Now, Judge Torres’ final decision will determine XRP’s future. If the SEC’s appeal is successful, XRP could experience significant selling pressure and drop below $2.50. However, if the court upholds Judge Torres' ruling, XRP might reach a new all-time high of $4.

While XRP's direction is uncertain, users are shifting their attention to PlutoChain ($PLUTO) – a hybrid Layer-2 solution that could pioneer a new sector of Bitcoin dApps.

Let's take a closer look.

Bill Morgan, a lawyer unaffiliated with Ripple, posted on XRP Scan that Ripple is likely to file a cross-appeal, especially after the president-elect issued his own speculative token without registering it with the regulator.

Since January 15, XRP has grown 16% and now trades at $3.12. The first resistance XRP must clear is $3.32, after which, it might climb to a new ATH of $4.

On the technical side, indicators point to an upward course. XRP has successfully broken out of its bullish flag pattern, and most of the Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs) and Simple Moving Averages (SMAs) are below the current price, so the long-term outlook is optimistic.

PlutoChain's Vision for the Future of Bitcoin: Customizable, Scalable, and Decentralized

PlutoChain ($PLUTO) could provide a more decentralized, reliable, and customizable foundation for diverse applications including DeFi protocols, P2E games, and AI agents on Bitcoin’s network

This Layer-2 solution employs EVM compatibility that bridges Bitcoin with Ethereum. This means developers can build complex applications on top of Bitcoin’s highly secure infrastructure and import existing apps from Ethereum.

PlutoChain already launched its testnet, which now processes 43,200 transactions daily with an average block time of two seconds. That’s roughly 60 times faster than the Bitcoin mainnet.

The mainnet launch will happen in a few weeks, and PlutoChain has already proven it can handle a significant of Bitcoin’s workload without a hitch. At full capacity, it could process thousands of daily transactions, which is essential for a network hosting data-heavy applications.

Beyond higher throughput, faster speeds, and enhanced programmability, PlutoChain offers a community-centric governance structure.

PlutoChain gives all community members a seat at the table. Users directly influence which upgrades are implemented and can even propose their own ideas through Discord.

Adding to this, PlutoChain collaborates with leading security firms like QuillAudits, SolidProof, and Assure DeFi to conduct rigorous audits and mitigate potential vulnerabilities.

Ultimately, PlutoChain takes the best of the two most popular blockchains and introduces an entirely new ecosystem – scalable, flexible, and truly decentralized. It’s not meant to replace Bitcoin but to complement it and unlock its full potential.

The Bottom Line

XRP’s fate now hinges on the outcome of the SEC’s appeal. While a favorable ruling could push XRP to a new ATH, there’s always a possibility of the case taking an unexpected turn.

At the same time, PlutoChain continues to gain momentum. The testnet has already demonstrated its reliability, processing thousands of transactions per second with minimal latency.

Impressive performance, coupled with transparency, security, and interoperability, makes it a project worth watching the following period.