Amidst an evolving crypto landscape where the emphasis shifts from mere narrative-driven surges to measurable value discussions, prominent figure Mike Novogratz provided insightful evaluations on altcoins XRP and Cardano. He highlighted the inevitable challenge for these projects to demonstrate actual use and revenue generation, noting that as the market matures, altcoin valuations follow suit. His thoughts, shared during a Galaxy Digital interview supported by blockchain data, sparked a new debate about the sustainability of XRP and ADA’s current positions.
Is Community Support Sufficient?
In a conversation with Galaxy Digital Research Director Alex Thorn, Mike Novogratz shared observations on XRP and Cardano, noting limited blockchain activity despite their loyal investor bases. The real question, according to Novogratz, is whether these communities can maintain their loyalty amid growing competition. He pointed out that blockchains with low usage intensity may struggle against emerging alternatives.
Recognizing Charles Hoskinson’s achievement in building a strong Cardano community, Novogratz noted the network’s limited real usage. Similarly, he recalled criticisms of XRP’s organic activity despite its longstanding high market valuation. In his view, the crypto market increasingly demands more than mere faith and expectation for survival.
Valuation Linked to Revenue and Use
Novogratz suggested that, unlike Bitcoin considered as “money,” altcoins will progressively be assessed like traditional companies. Critical determinants of market value include revenue generation, user base, and tangible economic contributions. Despite RippleNet’s endeavors employing XRP for cross-border payments with banks and fintech, blockchain activity remains below expectations.
Data supports this perspective. CryptoQuant’s figures indicate a modest 16,000 active addresses on the XRP network, with Cardano slightly higher at 19,000. Conversely, Solana, backed by DeFi applications and popular projects, boasts millions of active addresses. Yet, XRP maintains a market cap around $115 billion, while ADA trades in the $13–14 billion range.
Novogratz highlighted Hyperliquid, a decentralized futures exchange, as an example of a project generating real income. The platform uses its earnings for HYPE coin buybacks, providing the asset with a share-like economic structure. He argued that this approach might gain importance among investors in the future.
