XRP News Today: XRP Defies Selling Pressure, Analysts Predict 2026 Price Surge as ETFs Loom

Ripple’s XRP has maintained a price above $3 despite significant selling pressure from co-founder Chris Larsen, who has offloaded 100 million tokens valued at approximately $200 million this month. Analysts remain cautiously optimistic, citing growing institutional interest, regulatory progress, and the expansion of Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin as key factors that could drive XRP’s value higher by 2026. RLUSD, now with a $500 million market cap, has seen explosive growth since its launch in 2024, with 83% of its transactions currently occurring on Ethereum. However, experts predict a shift toward the XRP Ledger as institutions prioritize cost efficiency, which would amplify XRP’s utility and accelerate its burn mechanism, reducing supply over time [1].

Altcoin Daily, a prominent crypto analysis firm, has revised its stance on XRP, highlighting its role as a “bridge currency” in global settlements and its integration with RLUSD. The firm estimates that XRP could reach $5–$9 by 2026, depending on Bitcoin’s performance. If Bitcoin hits $150,000, XRP might trade above $5, making 1,000 XRP worth approximately $5,000. In a stronger bull case where Bitcoin surpasses $250,000, XRP could surge to $9, valuing 1,000 XRP at $9,000. These projections assume that real-world utility and institutional adoption will outperform broader market volatility [1].

Supporting this outlook, 11 firms managing over $240 billion in assets have filed with the SEC for XRP ETFs, mirroring the capital inflows seen after Bitcoin’s ETF approval. While no XRP ETF has yet launched, historical patterns suggest such products could significantly boost institutional demand [1]. Ripple’s leadership has also secured regulatory licenses in 60+ jurisdictions, enhancing credibility among investors. Teucrium CEO Sal Gilbertie, who launched the first XRP futures ETF in April, praised Ripple’s compliance-driven approach, comparing its executives to investment bankers [1].

Other forecasts add nuance to the 2026 price outlook. CoinCodex projects a narrower range, estimating XRP could trade between $3.36 and $5.08 in 2026, with an average of $4.04 [2]. AInvest and Coin Edition align with Altcoin Daily’s Bitcoin-linked scenarios, suggesting 1,000 XRP could be worth $5,000 or $9,000 if Bitcoin reaches $150,000 or $250,000, respectively [3][4]. These divergences reflect varying assumptions about macroeconomic conditions and adoption rates.

Despite the positive momentum, analysts caution that XRP’s performance remains contingent on broader market dynamics. The token’s current price of $3.185 and Larsen’s remaining holdings of 2.58 billion XRP signal long-term confidence, but volatility in crypto markets and Bitcoin’s trajectory could alter outcomes. The convergence of ETF speculation, stablecoin adoption, and regulatory clarity, however, positions XRP as a strong contender for a 2026 breakout [1][2][4].

Source: [1] [Here's What 1000 XRP Could Be Worth in 2026](https://thecryptobasic.com/2025/07/26/heres-what-1000-xrp-could-be-worth-in-2026/) [2] [XRP (XRP) Price Prediction 2025, 2026-2030](https://coincodex.com/crypto/ripple/price-prediction/) [3] [XRP News Today: Ripple XRP's 2026 Price Projections Reach $5,000](https://www.ainvest.com/news/xrp-news-today-ripple-xrp-2026-price-projections-reach-5-000-61-gain-bitcoin-hits-150-000-regulatory-progress-etf-filings-fuel-momentum-2507/) [4] [How Much Could 1000 XRP Be Worth by 2026? Altcoin Daily Weighs In](https://coinedition.com/how-much-could-1000-xrp-be-worth-by-2026-altcoin-daily-weighs-in/)