XRP Soars Towards $2.20: Dominating Monday Gains and Fueling Crypto ETF Inflows

As 2026 begins, XRP has emerged as the standout performer among the top ten cryptocurrencies, surpassing both Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). In the first week of the new year, XRP has maintained its upward trajectory, gaining 17% over the past week and surging past the key price level of $2.20.

Key Takeaways

XRP has experienced a 17% price increase in the first week of 2026, reaching above $2.20.
Strong demand for XRP ETFs has led to $483 million in inflows, contrasting with outflows for Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs.
The total inflows for XRP ETFs since launch have reached $1.3 billion, the fastest for any altcoin ETF.
A potential XRP ETF filing by BlackRock could enhance credibility and attract institutional investors.
Analysts predict XRP could reach $4-$5 by year-end if current trends continue, with targets of $6 and $20 suggested for the future.

XRP

Strong ETF Demand Propelling XRP Forward

A significant factor driving this increase is the remarkable performance of XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which attracted a noteworthy $483 million in inflows in recent weeks. In contrast, Bitcoin ETFs faced an outflow of $1.09 billion, and Ethereum products saw a decline of $564 million.

Notably, XRP funds recorded $483 million in inflows throughout December and experienced a consistent influx for 30 consecutive trading days—a streak that came to an end on December 26, marking the first day without additional inflows. Since their launch in November, XRP ETFs have accumulated a total of $1.3 billion in inflows, representing the fastest growth rate for any altcoin ETF so far.

Looking ahead, analysts suggest that the evolving ETF landscape could be crucial for fostering bullish trends for XRP. A potential application by BlackRock for an XRP ETF could provide a significant boost in credibility, drawing in more traditional institutional investors. BlackRock’s $40 billion Bitcoin ETF showcases its capability to effectively mobilize investments via its Aladdin platform. Moreover, the expansion of Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin into banking and remittance sectors could sustain demand for XRP as an essential bridge asset.

Signs also indicate that the Federal Reserve may consider several interest rate cuts in 2026, which could lower the opportunity cost for investors in riskier assets. In this environment, some analysts believe that XRP’s price might break its all-time high of $3.84, potentially rising to the $4.00 to $5.00 range by the end of the year.

Approaching Significant Gains?

In terms of price movement, market analyst Dark Defender, active on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), recently provided an update on XRP’s price action over the last three months.

The analyst noted that a new green candle initiated in January displays a bullish Relative Strength Index (RSI). Dark Defender emphasized that breaking through the $2.22 mark is critical for XRP’s advancement.

He suggested that XRP may be poised for a substantial increase, drawing comparisons to silver, and pointed toward ambitious projections of $6 and even up to $20 in the longer term. Reaching $6 would signify a significant 171% growth from current trading prices, while hitting the $20 mark would indicate an impressive 800% rise.

XRP The daily chart illustrates XRP's recovery above the $2.20 mark. Source: XRPUSDT on TradingView.com

As of now, XRP is trading at $2.21 while facing $2.22 as the next significant short-term resistance level, remaining about 40% below its all-time high.