Basic Attention Token vs XRP
Basic Attention Token (BAT) and XRP (XRP) both sit in the payments category, so they compete for the same slot in a portfolio. XRP launched in 2012, 5 years before Basic Attention Token. Basic Attention Token uses — (token on Ethereum) and XRP uses Federated Consensus. This page compares what can actually be verified about each protocol — nobody can tell you which will be worth more, and this page does not try to.
Cryptocurrencies are a highly volatile asset class without the protections of regulated funds: you can lose your entire investment. This comparison is educational content about the technical characteristics of two protocols, not a buy recommendation or a price forecast.
Head to head
Verifiable data for each protocol. Price and performance are deliberately left out: they change daily and cannot be derived from technical specs.
| Basic Attention Token | XRP | |
|---|---|---|
| Symbol | BAT | XRP |
| Launched | 2017 | 2012 |
| Consensus | — (token on Ethereum) | Federated Consensus |
| Max supply | 1.500M | 100.000M |
| Category | Payments | Payments |
This table does not say which one is "better". It says how they differ, which is the only thing that can be stated without guessing.
Basic Attention Token
BATThe token behind the Brave browser: it rewards people who opt into ads and lets them tip creators, with no ad middlemen.
XRP
XRPDesigned for near-instant, low-cost international payments and transfers via the XRP Ledger.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Basic Attention Token and XRP?+
Basic Attention Token (BAT) launched in 2017, uses — (token on Ethereum) and has a maximum supply of 1.500M. XRP (XRP) launched in 2012, uses Federated Consensus and has a maximum supply of 100.000M. Beyond the numbers, they were built for different purposes — see the description of each below.
Which one will be worth more?+
Nobody knows, and anyone telling you otherwise is guessing. Crypto prices depend on adoption, regulation, liquidity and sentiment, none of which can be forecast from a protocol's specs. This page deliberately compares only what is verifiable today.
Which has the scarcer supply?+
Both have a hard cap: 1.500M for Basic Attention Token and 100.000M for XRP. A cap limits future issuance, but it says nothing about demand — and demand is what sets the price.
Do they use the same technology?+
No: Basic Attention Token uses — (token on Ethereum) and XRP uses Federated Consensus. The consensus mechanism affects energy use, how the network is secured and how new coins enter circulation.
Should I hold both?+
That is a question about your risk tolerance, not about these two protocols. Crypto is a volatile asset class where you can lose your entire investment, and holding two coins in the same category adds far less diversification than it looks — they tend to move together. This is educational content, not a recommendation.