XRP has made a significant comeback, reclaiming its position as the fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization. As of Saturday, January 3, XRP is trading at $2.01, reflecting a 6% increase over the last 24 hours. This price surge has propelled its market capitalization to $122.05 billion, marking a 5.81% rise and allowing it to flip BNB.
The trading activity surrounding XRP has also intensified, with a dramatic 162.02% spike in 24-hour trading volume, now reaching $4.21 billion. This uptick indicates a resurgence in market engagement and investor interest in the token. Furthermore, the open interest in XRP stands at $1.3 billion, having increased by 5.33% in the last day, which highlights growing participation and strategic positioning among traders.
While Bitcoin faces challenges in regaining momentum at the start of 2026, altcoins like XRP are witnessing a robust increase in trading volume. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index remains in the “Fear” territory but appears to be trending towards a more neutral stance.
In an additional positive sign for XRP, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) related to the coin have attracted $13.5 million in inflows within the last day. This comes on the heels of a distinctive XRP ETF launch, which does not provide direct exposure to the token but employs swap-based instruments to track its price. This innovative approach could serve as a catalyst for further liquidity in the market.
Investment data from CoinShares indicates a contrasting trend between XRP and Bitcoin. For the week ending December 27, XRP investment products brought in $70.2 million, while Bitcoin products experienced a significant outflow of $443 million, contributing to an overall decline in digital asset products by $446 million.
Looking ahead, Standard Chartered has released optimistic forecasts for XRP, suggesting it could reach $12.50 by the end of 2028. The bank”s Global Head of Digital Assets Research, Geoffrey Kendrick, anticipates XRP will hit $5.50 in 2024, $8 in 2026, $10.40 in 2027, and ultimately $12.50 by late 2028. This trajectory implies a potential gain of over 500% in the next three years, positioning XRP to possibly surpass Ethereum in market capitalization by late 2028.
The recent developments surrounding XRP and its associated ETF highlight a shifting narrative in the cryptocurrency landscape, underscoring the growing acceptance and integration of digital assets within traditional financial frameworks.
