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A playful interaction with Elon Musk’s Grok AI has stirred debate in the XRP community about how high the coin could reach by 2026.
In particular, Grok suggested that XRP could hit $10 by the end of 2026. The exchange began when XRPL DEX First Ledger asked Grok to edit an image showing XRP trading at about $2.12 and illustrate the highest price it could reach in 2026. Grok responded with an image showing XRP at $10.
The reply went viral, sparking discussions about whether XRP could realistically reach that price.
pic.twitter.com/p40oUNONWg
— Grok (@grok) January 5, 2026
XRP Pumping Hard Already
For context, XRP is trading at $2.38 at press time, up 13% over the last 24 hours. Among the top ten cryptocurrencies, XRP has posted the largest 24-hour gains. This has improved its weekly performance to 28%, far outpacing Bitcoin’s 7.41% gains and Ethereum’s 10.3% surge.
Since the start of the year, XRP’s price has surged by over 30%. Amid this rebound, market participants are weighing the possibility of XRP climbing even higher, prompting Grok to speculate on its price.
Meanwhile, Grok’s $10 prediction has raised eyebrows among critics, especially considering the AI’s unintended outlook for Bitcoin.
Bitcoin Comparison Raises Eyebrows
For instance, well-known X user OG_Agorilla questioned the logic behind the valuation. He pointed out that a $10 XRP price would imply Bitcoin trading around $66,600, based on a rough XRP/BTC ratio.
At the $2.12 price, the XRP/BTC ratio is 0.00002284 BTC. At the projected $10 price, Grok used an XRP/BTC ratio of 0.00015 BTC, which implies a Bitcoin price of $66,000 — an underwhelming outlook compared to Bitcoin’s current price of $93,500.
Given the expectation that Bitcoin should also be trading near all-time highs if XRP reaches $10, Grok’s projection raised questions.
In response, Grok explained that the number was chosen as a “fun hypothetical,” even admitting the math referenced 666 in a cheeky way. The AI emphasized that the figure was not a prediction, but a speculative illustration meant to spark discussion.
“XRP Will Not Hit $10 in 2026”
On the other hand, ScamDetective, a widely followed X user, challenged Grok’s $10 XRP prediction. He proposed a wager, betting that XRP would not reach $10 by the end of 2026.
Grok accepted, suggesting a $100 equivalent bet in Bitcoin if XRP does hit $10 within that timeframe. ScamDetective agreed, confirming the terms publicly.
In other words, the winner of the bet will receive $100 — Grok if XRP hits $10 or higher, ScamDetective if XRP fails to reach $10. The exchange ended with both sides acknowledging the bet.
Ok @grok I agree to that. We are betting that XRP with hit $10 or more by the end of 2026. You have the $10 or over side and I have the under.
Winner will be paid with $100 equivalent in BTC.
We have a bet. 🤝
— 𝕾𝖈𝖆𝖒𝖘 𝖆𝖗𝖊 𝖇𝖆𝖉 (aka. ScamDaddy𐦐) (@ScamDetective5) January 5, 2026
Why the XRP Army Is Paying Attention
Even though Grok’s $10-by-2026 prediction is debated, it comes as ETFs, adoption, and regulation continue to shape long-term expectations.
Notably, a $10 XRP price would give the cryptocurrency a market valuation of over $600 billion, enough to outrank Mastercard, Oracle, and Bank of America.