thecryptobasic.com
The strong start $XRP has made in 2026 is drawing attention across the crypto market.
According to Akanksha Saxena, a Binance Square KOL, the recent momentum goes beyond short-term price action and is supported by several clear signals aligning at the same time.
In a recent post on X, Saxena outlined four reasons $XRP is increasingly on investors’ radar this year.
ETF Demand Is Building Momentum
One of the key drivers highlighted is rising ETF demand. Spot $XRP ETFs have attracted close to $80 million in inflows since the start of the year. This follows consistent inflows on trading days since the November launch of $XRP ETFs. Notably, total inflows now stand at $1.2 billion, with $1.53 billion in assets under management.
However, $XRP recorded its first-ever net outflow of $40.8 million on Wednesday. This was driven by 21Shares’ massive sale of $47.25 million worth of $XRP. Meanwhile, other asset managers posted positive flows.
$XRP Is Outperforming Major Cryptocurrencies
Performance data is also strengthening $XRP’s case. Since January 1, $XRP has risen around 31% from its 2025 close of $1.84 to reach $2.41 on January 6. This move outperformed the gains in both Bitcoin and Ethereum.
However, at press time, $XRP and the broader market are undergoing a pullback, impacting 2026 performance. $XRP now trades at $2.08, down 7.15% over the past day. Despite this, it remains up 12.76% over the past week.
Market Sentiment Has Turned Bullish
Another notable shift is sentiment. Social discussions and market positioning around $XRP have become increasingly positive.
As of December 23, sentiment around $XRP was highly negative, which, according to Santiment, often precedes price rallies. This pattern proved accurate in the first week of January.
A follow-up comment from Santiment analyst Brian Quinlivan confirmed that sentiment has improved but remains far from euphoric. Notably, Quinlivan noted that $XRP’s 30-day MVRV has turned slightly positive at around 1.5%, indicating that recent buyers are near breakeven and selling pressure is limited.
Mainstream attention has followed as well, with CNBC recently describing $XRP as the hottest crypto of the year. CNBC cited its sharp gains and outperformance relative to Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Network Activity Is Picking Up
On-chain data is reinforcing the price action. Recent data from Santiment shows $XRP whale activity has surged to levels last seen in October 2025.
It highlights a sharp increase in whale transactions, with transfers exceeding $100,000 reaching a three-month high on January 6, totaling 2,802 transactions. Elevated activity has persisted throughout the week, following 2,170 similar transactions on January 5.
Whale transactions above $1 million also rose significantly, jumping from around 1,914 to over 2,400, signaling renewed large-holder interest in $XRP.
With ETF inflows, strong relative performance, improving sentiment, and higher network activity, $XRP is shaping up as an asset to watch in 2026. Some believe the coin could set a new all-time high this year.