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Aaron Arnold, the founder of Altcoin Daily, has sparked a new conversation about what 1,000 $XRP could be worth by 2026.
He posed the question in a tweet, prompting various responses from market participants. While some were ultra-bullish, projecting ambitious triple-digit price levels, others presented more bearish outlooks.
Meanwhile, Arnold shared his own target and provided a deep dive into various factors supporting his outlook.
The $RLUSD Factor
Interestingly, a key driver of his outlook is Ripple’s stablecoin, $RLUSD. Launched eight months ago, it has already grown to a market cap of over $686 million. This makes $RLUSD the second-fastest expanding stablecoin of 2025, behind only BlackRock’s USDTB.
Arnold pointed out that most of $RLUSD’s current use is on Ethereum. Nonetheless, he predicts a shift to the $XRP Ledger is inevitable, as institutions seek faster and more cost-efficient rails.
He believes this transition won’t just boost $XRP’s network activity but will also accelerate its burn rate, gradually reducing supply.
Price Scenarios for 1,000 $XRP by 2026
Arnold mapped out two potential $XRP price paths based on Bitcoin’s performance:
- If Bitcoin rallies to $150,000, $XRP could surpass $5, turning 1,000 $XRP into $5,000.
- If Bitcoin climbs to $250,000, $XRP might reach $9, making 1,000 tokens worth $9,000.
For context, 1,000 $XRP is currently worth around $2,940—an impressive rise from roughly $500 just nine months ago.
Arnold’s projection hinges on the idea that cryptocurrencies with real-world utility—like $XRP—will ride Bitcoin’s momentum during this cycle. Notably, Bitcoin reached a peak of $124,450 earlier this month. $XRP has also inched closer to setting a new peak.
ETF Factor
The analyst also highlighted growing institutional interest. Eleven firms, representing more than $240 billion in assets under management, have filed for an $XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF). He compared this to Bitcoin’s ETF approval, which propelled BTC from $45,000 to over $100,000 in 2024.
A similar inflow, he suggested, could drive $XRP significantly higher. Still, Arnold’s $9 target by 2026 is relatively conservative compared to more optimistic community predictions of $20 or more within the same timeframe.
Ripple’s Strategy and Global Expansion
Arnold also highlighted Ripple’s consistent focus on compliance and long-term strategy. He noted that the company has already secured over 60 regulatory licenses worldwide.
He cited Teucrium CEO Sal Gilbertie, who likened Ripple’s approach to that of investment bankers: disciplined and deliberate. Notably, Teucrium recently launched an $XRP futures ETF, which has already attracted significant demand.
Ultimately, Anold believes $XRP’s unique positioning as a bridge asset, growing ETF interest, and the rise of $RLUSD could set the stage for a stronger-than-expected performance by 2026.