The cryptocurrency XRP has started 2026 with significant momentum, capturing the attention of investors and analysts alike. According to Akanksha Saxena, a key opinion leader on Binance Square, this interest is driven by multiple factors that extend beyond mere short-term price fluctuations.
One of the primary catalysts for XRP”s current popularity is the increasing demand for exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Since the beginning of the year, spot XRP ETFs have seen inflows nearing $80 million. This rise follows a consistent trend of inflows since the launch of XRP ETFs in November, contributing to a total of $1.2 billion in inflows and $1.53 billion in assets under management. Nonetheless, XRP faced its first-ever net outflow of $40.8 million recently, spurred by a significant sale of $47.25 million by 21Shares. Despite this setback, other asset managers continue to show positive inflows.
Performance metrics further bolster XRP”s position. Since the start of 2026, XRP has recorded a 31% increase, climbing from $1.84 at the end of 2025 to $2.41 by January 6. This growth has outpaced both Bitcoin and Ethereum. However, as of now, XRP has retreated to $2.08, reflecting a 7.15% drop over the past day, although it remains up by 12.76% over the past week.
The shift in market sentiment is another crucial element driving XRP”s appeal. Discussions on social media platforms and overall market positioning regarding XRP have turned increasingly optimistic. Data from Santiment shows that sentiment was notably negative around December 23, a pattern that often precedes price rallies. This was confirmed by Santiment analyst Brian Quinlivan, who noted that while sentiment has improved, it is not yet at euphoric levels. Interestingly, XRP”s 30-day market value to realized value (MVRV) has slightly turned positive, indicating that recent investors are nearing the breakeven point, which could limit selling pressure.
Additionally, on-chain data reflects heightened network activity for XRP. Recent statistics reveal a surge in whale transactions, reaching levels not seen since October 2025. On January 6 alone, the number of whale transactions exceeding $100,000 peaked at 2,802, with a continuation of elevated activity throughout the week following 2,170 transactions on January 5. Transactions involving amounts over $1 million also increased significantly, from approximately 1,914 to over 2,400, signaling renewed interest from large holders.
With rising ETF inflows, strong performance metrics, improved sentiment, and increased network activity, XRP is undoubtedly an asset to monitor in 2026. Analysts speculate that the coin may even establish a new all-time high this year.
