XRP Is Gaining Momentum — Here’s Why It Could Challenge Bitcoin and Ethereum by 2026

Jakarta, Pintu News – XRP (XRP) has been one of the hottest crypto assets this year, even outperforming giants like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) in terms of performance, as well as managing to take the third spot as the cryptocurrency with the largest market capitalization.

Since the beginning of the year, the value of XRP has increased by more than 20% and was once trading close to the $2.40 mark. What has caught attention is not only the price spike, but also the reason behind the increase.

XRP as a “Not Too Dense Trade”

In her interview on CNBC, journalist Mackenzie Sagalos explained that XRP benefits from a change in investor mindset by the end of 2025. He noted that many traders view XRP as a “buy the dip” opportunity, rather than simply an asset that follows an upward trend (momentum trade).

Read also: Ripple (XRP) 2026 Price Prediction: Can it Break $3?

As Bitcoin has stabilized and the market has become more crowded, traders have started to look for other assets with higher profit potential – and XRP fits that profile perfectly.

This strategy proved successful in a short period of time. In early January, XRP prices surged as new buyers came in, while selling pressure remained low. Institutional interest also helped drive this rise, with a steady flow of funds into XRP ETFs during a period of relative market calm.

Since the launch of the XRP ETF, total fund inflows have reached approximately $1.62 billion, reflecting strong conviction from large investors.

Sagalos also added that outside of the trading side, XRP continues to receive attention for its role in cross-border payments.

Ripple will not IPO in 2026

Despite XRP’s strong market performance, Ripple emphasized that it has no plans to go public.

In a recent interview, Ripple President Monica Long stated that, “For now, we still plan to remain a private company. Our financials are strong and we prefer to grow privately through acquisitions and product development.”

Long also mentioned that Ripple managed to raise $500 million by the end of 2025 with a company valuation of $40 billion. With that much capital, Ripple does not feel the need to do an IPO.

XRP Price Analysis

On the technical front, XRP is still holding above the rising support trend line, although it did correct from its recent highs around $2.41. The price briefly dipped below $2.32 and touched the $2.25 level, but buyers soon stepped in to arrest further declines.

Read also: Crypto Market Potentially Collapsing Ahead of US Supreme Court Tariff Decision?

Since early January, XRP has been printing higher lows, indicating that buyers are getting in early whenever the price corrects. As long as the price stays above the $2.20 zone, the trend structure is still considered stable, and there is a chance to go back up to the $2.60 – $3 range if the momentum picks up again.

Meanwhile, the RSI indicator has cooled to the 45 level, which is often a healthy reset signal in an ongoing uptrend.

Will XRP Reach $5 by the End of 2026?

With steady ETF fund flows and favorable fundamentals, XRP has the potential to continue its rally to the $5 level by the end of this year.

While short-term volatility is still possible, the recent price correction appears to be just a healthy pause in a larger uptrend, not an overall trend reversal.

That’s the latest information about crypto. Follow us on Google News to get the latest crypto news about crypto projects and blockchain technology. Also, learn crypto from scratch with complete discussion through Pintu Academy and stay up-to-date with the latest crypto market such as bitcoin price today, xrp coin price today, dogecoin and other crypto asset prices through Pintu Market.

Enjoy an easy and secure crypto trading experience by downloading Pintu crypto app via Google Play Store or App Store now. Also, get a web trading experience with various advanced trading tools such as pro charting, various types of order types, and portfolio tracker only at Pintu Pro.

*Disclaimer

This content aims to enrich readers’ information. Pintu collects this information from various relevant sources and is not influenced by outside parties. Note that an asset’s past performance does not determine its projected future performance. Crypto trading activities have high risk and volatility, always do your own research and use cold cash before investing. All activities of buying and selling bitcoin and other crypto asset investments are the responsibility of the reader.

Reference:

• Coinpedia. Why XRP is Outperforming Bitcoin and Ethereum in 2026. Accessed on January 8, 2026