XRP Rockets To Highest Level Since Mid-November Amid ETF Inflows and Regulatory Clarity

XRP reached $2.01 on Saturday, its strongest level in months, according to latest data. The price rise has been accompanied by a 162.02% increase in 24-hour trading volume, now standing at $4.21 billion.

The token's market cap has climbed to $122.05 billion, a 5.81% increase in the last day, securing XRP's position as the fourth-largest cryptocurrency. Open interest has also grown by 5.33% to $1.3 billion, signaling rising participation.

XRP ETFs have drawn $13.5 million in inflows in the past 24 hours, according to SoSoValue, indicating growing institutional interest in the asset.

Why Did This Happen?

Standard Chartered, a global financial institution, has predicted that XRP could reach $8 by the end of 2026, driven by improved regulatory clarity and institutional adoption.

Geoffrey Kendrick, the bank's Global Head of Digital Assets Research, has outlined a price path for XRP, predicting $8 in 2026 and $12.50 by 2028. This projection implies a gain of over 500% over the next three years.

The resolution of Ripple's long-standing SEC lawsuit has also contributed to XRP's improved outlook. In August 2025, the SEC withdrew its appeal, and Ripple agreed to a $125 million settlement. This legal resolution has cleared the path for U.S. spot XRP ETFs.

How Did Markets React?

XRP ETFs have attracted over $1.14 billion in inflows since their launch in November 2025, with no days of outflows recorded. These ETFs use swap-based instruments to track XRP's price and have become popular among institutional investors.

Coinbase reported a 300% increase in USD-to-XRP trading volume, suggesting that new capital is flowing into the market.

Despite these gains, some technical indicators remain bearish. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) has shown a bearish divergence, raising concerns about whether the current rally is sustainable.

What Are Analysts Watching Next?

Analysts are closely monitoring whether XRP can maintain its price above $2, as well as its ability to break through the $2.45–$2.50 resistance level.

Support is currently holding at $1.85–$1.80, with a potential breakdown to $1.61 if the price falls below this range.

XRP's circulating supply is around 57 billion tokens, and continued ETF inflows could create a supply shock, potentially driving prices higher.

Standard Chartered also forecasts $4–$8 billion in inflows into XRP ETFs in 2026, assuming favorable macroeconomic conditions and continued institutional participation.

Ripple's application for a U.S. banking charter is another key factor to watch, as it could lead to broader institutional adoption.

What Are the Risks?

While XRP has seen significant ETF inflows, it still lags behind Bitcoin and Ethereum in market capitalization. Total assets in XRP ETFs currently amount to $1.24 billion, representing just 1.12% of XRP's market cap.

There is also the risk of ETF outflows if institutional interest wanes or if macroeconomic conditions worsen.

Additionally, the utility of XRP in Ripple's payment network remains a question. While Ripple has 300+ partners, only 40% use XRP for on-demand liquidity. If the network can operate without heavy XRP usage, the token's value could be limited.

What's Next for XRP in 2026?

If XRP continues to gain traction, it could challenge Ethereum's position as the second-largest cryptocurrency by late 2028.

Quarterly price targets have been set, with Q1 2026 expecting a move to $2.00–$2.80, Q2 to $2.30–$3.50, Q3 to $2.80–$4.50, and Q4 to $3.50–$5.50 according to market analysis.

The success of 2026 will depend on maintaining support at $1.80, along with increased network activity and ETF inflows that tighten XRP's available supply.

Final Thoughts

XRP has made a strong start to 2026, with ETF inflows and regulatory clarity supporting its price movement. However, analysts remain cautious about the sustainability of the rally, emphasizing the need for sustained volume and broader market participation.

Investors should continue to monitor key technical levels, ETF inflows, and Ripple's institutional adoption progress to assess the long-term viability of XRP as a global liquidity asset.