XRP Set to Chart Its Own Course Apart from Bitcoin, Says CEO

XRP

Summary: In a recent podcast, Steven McClurg, CEO of Canary Capital, expressed the possibility that XRP may follow a distinct path from Bitcoin this year. He emphasized the role of enterprise use cases in driving this divergence, pointing to tokens with practical applications as key players in the evolving crypto market.

Key Takeaways:

XRP could develop independently from Bitcoin due to its practical applications.
CEO Steven McClurg highlights the XRP Ledger and Hedera as networks with enterprise adoption potential.
McClurg predicts modest gains for certain tokens, with Bitcoin facing possible declines.
A new all-time high for Bitcoin is not expected in 2026, suggesting a deeper market correction may be underway.

XRP and Hedera: Practical Choices for the Future

During a discussion on a podcast hosted by Paul Barron, McClurg pointed out that XRP and Hedera are exemplary networks that can gain from enterprise adoption and tokenization initiatives. He believes platforms that demonstrate clear utility—such as payment systems, tokenized assets, and stablecoin frameworks—might retain their value more effectively once speculative enthusiasm diminishes.

According to McClurg, he does not foresee a rapid surge in prices for these assets. Instead, he predicts moderate growth, describing potential increases as "low double-digit" rather than explosive.

XRP market cap currently at $125 billion. Chart: TradingView

Bitcoin: A Challenging Outlook Ahead

Shifting his focus to Bitcoin, McClurg expressed a more pessimistic outlook. He posited that Bitcoin reached its peak on October 6, 2025, at a price of $126,200. Since that peak, Bitcoin's value has decreased approximately 35%, landing around $95,800.

He cautioned that Bitcoin prices could drop by an additional 20% to 30% over the next six to nine months. This would potentially see BTC trading between $65,000 and $77,000 as this market cycle closes. McClurg does not anticipate a new all-time high for Bitcoin in 2026, suggesting that the market may be entering a deeper corrective phase.

Critics emphasize that altcoins often experience greater losses during market downturns, and McClurg's perspective aligns with this caution. Typically, liquidity diminishes during major sell-offs, affecting even the most valuable tokens. This means that while XRP might perform relatively better than Bitcoin, a true independence from Bitcoin's influence is rare and usually only temporary.

Ultimately, McClurg suggests that the most realistic scenario is one where XRP and other similar tokens continue to show modest returns or remain stable, even as Bitcoin declines. This situation could still be significant for both investors and enterprises eager to explore tokenization projects, but it may not lead to startling price surges.

Featured image from Bitpanda Blog, chart from TradingView