XRP transactions surpassed Bitcoin and Ethereum

The XRP digital token XRP $1.39 XRP -2.29% Market capitalization $85.72 billion VOL. 24 hours $0.13 billion has become one of the hottest cryptocurrency investments of early 2026, outpacing even Bitcoin BTC $76,942.52 Mezo Wrapped BTC -1.49% Market capitalization $75.77 million VOL. 24 hours $0.96 billion and Ethereum ETH $2,117.36 Bridged Ether (StarkGate) -3.21% Market capitalization $37.67 million VOL. 24 hours $0.51 billion and rising to third place in terms of market capitalization. Since the beginning of the year, the asset has grown by more than 20%, briefly trading at $ 2.4.

Analysts explain that XRP’s success is not only due to the price but also to a change in investor sentiment. CNBC journalist Mackenzie Sagalos noted that at the end of 2025, many traders saw XRP as a «buy on a dip» opportunity rather than a classic momentum play. Amid Bitcoin’s greater stability, investors were looking for assets with potentially higher returns, and XRP met this demand.

An additional factor was institutional interest: after the launch of the ETF on XRP, total investment flows reached $ 1.62 billion, which indicates the continued confidence of major players. In addition, the asset continues to attract attention for its role in cross-border payments.

Despite its market success, Ripple has no plans to go public in 2026. The company’s president Monica Long confirmed that Ripple remains a private entity, having enough capital after raising $ 500 million in 2025 at a valuation of $ 40 billion.

From a technical standpoint, XRP is holding above the rising support line, even after pulling back from $ 2.41 to $ 2.25. The price is forming higher lows, which indicates buyer activity. As long as the quotes remain above $ 2.20, the structure looks stable with the potential to move to $ 2.60-$ 3. The RSI has cooled to 45, which often means a healthy pause within an uptrend.

Analysts suggest that with continued institutional inflows and positive fundamentals, XRP could continue to grow and reach $ 5 by the end of 2026. Short-term fluctuations remain likely, but the latest pullback is seen as a technical correction rather than a trend reversal.