21Shares Unveils 3 Price Predictions for XRP in 2026: What’s in Store?

In a detailed analysis, 21Shares has released a three-scenario forecast for the price of XRP in 2026. They suggest that the token is transitioning from a phase characterized by legal disputes to one that is increasingly influenced by demand for exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and on-ledger adoption metrics.

Key Takeaways

21Shares has provided three potential price outcomes for XRP in 2026.
The outlook forecasts that XRP's value will shift from litigation-related factors to institutional fundamentals following the SEC case settlement.
The firm anticipates a challenging environment post-settlement, with greater accountability and less reliance on speculative hype.
Significant ETF demand and XRP utility growth are seen as critical drivers for potential price appreciation.

21Shares Unveils 3 Price Predictions for XRP in 2026

A New Chapter for XRP in 2026

In a research report dated January 23, Matt Mena from 21Shares described 2026 as a “defining turning point” for XRP, where the asset's valuation will be closely tied to institutional fundamentals. Following a favorable settlement in August 2025 that resolved ongoing SEC litigation, 21Shares believes this outcome has lifted a heavy burden that was capping XRP’s potential for growth, suggesting a new price target of $3.66, with previous resistance at $2.00 now acting as support.

XRP Price Forecasts

21Shares characterizes the period after the settlement as a more challenging landscape for XRP, noting that it will have less narrative flexibility and will face higher accountability. With legal uncertainties resolved, XRP will no longer be able to depend on courtroom drama or regulatory ambiguities to fuel its valuation, raising the risk of a “sell the news” situation if usage doesn’t scale as anticipated. This leads to a shift in the market's perception of XRP towards realized adoption metrics rather than legal victories.

According to 21Shares, the clearance of regulatory concerns broadens the pool of potential buyers and product offerings in the United States, specifically targeting U.S.-based institutional investors, regulated funds, exchange-traded product (ETP) issuers, banks, and payment service providers. Previously hesitant due to compliance risks, these institutions entering the market signals the start of a new phase of price discovery for XRP.

Demand Dynamics

The firm highlights that the rise of U.S. spot XRP ETFs has significantly altered the demand landscape, achieving over $1.3 billion in assets under management within just one month and showing a sustained trend of inflows over 55 consecutive days. 21Shares emphasizes a supply-and-demand narrative, indicating that while ETF interest is growing, retail investors are holding on to their XRP tokens.

“Exchange reserves are currently at a seven-year low of 1.7 billion XRP, while institutional ETF demand competes with a community of holders unwilling to sell,” the report emphasizes. This interplay could drive a non-linear price adjustment, although it also cautions that the relationship can be reciprocal if the inflow momentum diminishes.

Drawing comparison to the initiation of Bitcoin spot ETFs in the U.S., which experienced nearly $38 billion in net inflows and a price increase from around $40,000 to $100,000 in a year, 21Shares suggests that the smaller market cap at the start of XRP's ETF phase could enhance the pricing impact per dollar invested, provided early trends hold through 2026.

Utility Considerations

The third factor in 21Shares' analysis is XRPL's utility, positioning it as essential infrastructure for tokenization and stablecoin transactions. The report cites impressive growth for RLUSD, boasting over 37,000 holders and a market cap surge of more than 1,800%, rising from $72 million to $1.38 billion within a year. Additionally, XRPL’s decentralized finance (DeFi) total value locked (TVL) has expanded nearly 100 times over the past two years to exceed $100 million. Furthermore, the introduction of the Multi-Purpose Tokens standard is seen as a crucial mechanism enabling institutions to issue real-world assets with built-in compliance features.

Nonetheless, 21Shares warns of execution risks, stressing that while progress is expected to be consistent, it may not be explosive. XRPL currently lags behind competitors in terms of developer engagement and user activity, with rising competition for real-world asset flows from platforms like Canton and Solana.

The firm's anticipated price forecasts for XRP in 2026 include a base case of $2.45 (50% probability), a bullish scenario of $2.69 (30%), and a bearish outlook of $1.60 (implying a potential decrease of 16%). Key influencing factors will be ongoing ETF inflows, substantial tokenization activities, and RLUSD's retention of institutional interest.

XRP price predictions 2026 by 21Shares

At the time of this writing, XRP is trading at $1.8792.

XRP price chart