Prediction: Solana (SOL) Will Be Worth More Than XRP by 2030

XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) and Solana (CRYPTO: SOL) are two cryptocurrencies with potential. Both are among the top 10 cryptos by market capitalization, and both have had their share of headlines over the last few years.

I believe Solana will outperform XRP in the long term. Not only does it have more potential use cases, but the design and structure also give Solana a better chance of success.

That's supported by price predictions from crypto investment firm, Bitwise. Here are its most optimistic 2030 predictions for each:

• Its most bullish price target for Solana is $ 6,636.88, almost 3,500% higher than it is today.
• Its most bullish price target for XRP is $29.32, over 1,000% higher than today.

Image source: Getty Images.

Solana vs. XRP: Purpose

Solana and the XRP Ledger -- XRP's underlying blockchain -- are programmable cryptos. This means other crypto projects can be built on their ecosystems, including stablecoins and real-world asset tokenization (RWA). These could be key markets. By 2030, Citigroup predicts stablecoin volumes could reach as much as $4 trillion, and McKinsey predicts the market cap of RWAs could hit $2 trillion.

The two projects have different purposes. Solana set out to provide an open-source, decentralized network that would underpin a broad range of financial products and services. Ripple, the company behind XRP, aims to remove the friction involved in moving money around -- making it easier for anyone, anywhere to make payments.

Solana has low fees and a reputation for fast transactions. That has made it a popular choice for a range of projects, including gaming, meme coins, social media, and finance. It's gaining traction as a speedy alternative to first mover Ethereum.

In contrast, XRP was designed primarily as a payment bridge. It has since positioned itself as a compliance-friendly blockchain partner for businesses. At one point, it boasted it could take market share from the SWIFT international payment system. However, SWIFT is carrying out its own blockchain pilots.

Solana's staking advantage

Unlike XRP, Solana investors can earn rewards by staking their SOL tokens, which also contributes to network security. Combined with a burn mechanism that reduces the number of tokens in circulation, Solana's model encourages and rewards long-term investors.

In terms of partnerships, which both cryptos will need if they are to meet Bitwise's most bullish forecasts, Solana seems better-positioned. Solana Pay works on Shopify and is supported by Visa. XRP has announced some big-name deals as well, including RippleNet teaming up with Amazon Web Services. However, it no longer publishes the full list on its website, and it is hard to know which pilots are still running.

Solana has more growth potential than XRP

XRP was one of the first cryptocurrencies to demonstrate a real-world use case and put it into practice. It may well generate significant returns -- Bitwise's potential 1,000% growth scenario is nothing to be sniffed at. But it faces steep competition from existing financial institutions.

All cryptocurrency projects carry risk, which is why crypto should only make up a small fraction of your portfolio. Even so, Solana has more going for it than XRP. Putting aside the staking yield and partnerships, the breadth of Solana's use cases is compelling. It sounds harsh, but I'd prefer a whole ecosystem to a one-trick payment pony.

Emma Newbery has positions in Ethereum and Solana. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Ethereum, Shopify, Solana, Visa, and XRP. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.