Ethereum is mostly built by a kid that thinks that he knows it all. Ripple already has the support from a few Banks, it would be unwise to say that Ripple is not going anywhere. I don't like Ripple though.
Well, that "kid" has certainly gained mainstream attention and recognition by inventing a powerful smart contracts platform like Ethereum. If compared against Ripple, Ethereum is superior not only because of its technology and features, but also because it is a decentralized cryptocurrency free from third-party interference. On the other hand, Ripple is extremely centralized, and if the company managing the XRP Ledger goes down, then the rest of the network will go down as well.
Of course, many banks are backing Ripple due to its unparalleled speed and low costs, but the level of centralization it has, greatly affects its security and reliability over the long term. Therefore, I believe that decentralized cryptocurrencies like Ethereum will win in the long run. Just my thoughts
