XRP Price Surge as Spot ETF Inflows Exceed $1 Billion

In early 2026, XRP has taken a leading position among the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, surpassing Bitcoin and Ethereum in percentage gains, largely driven by a significant increase in spot ETF inflows.

Key Takeaways

XRP has surpassed Bitcoin and Ethereum in gains, fueled by strong spot ETF inflows.
Spot XRP ETFs in the U.S. have attracted over $1 billion in cumulative inflows.
The balance of XRP on centralized exchanges is at multi-year lows, indicating a shift to cold storage by investors.
Liquidity on the XRPL decentralized exchange is at multi-year highs, suggesting anticipation of price movement.
Ripple's strategic acquisitions aim to enhance its role in regulated payments, presenting XRP as a utility asset.

XRP price bulls seize momentum as spot ETF inflows blast past $1b mark

XRP Outperforms Bitcoin and Ethereum as ETF Inflows Hit $1 Billion

According to market data, XRP has reached its highest price since November 2025 and has shown more significant gains compared to Bitcoin and Ethereum since the beginning of the year.

XRP price bulls seize momentum as spot ETF inflows blast past $1b mark - 1

The United States' spot XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have experienced substantial inflows since their launch in mid-November, continuing into the first two trading days of 2026. Cumulative inflows have now exceeded $1 billion, as reported by XPmarket.

High daily trading volumes for these funds suggest that institutional investors are actively increasing their positions. While XRP investment products attracted modest capital in 2024, figures for 2025 increased nearly five-fold, and the inflow rate has continued to accelerate into early 2026.

On-chain data reveals that the amount of XRP held on centralized exchanges has decreased to multi-year lows. This trend typically indicates that investors are transferring assets to cold storage or custody solutions rather than keeping them readily available for trading.

Additionally, liquidity on the XRPL decentralized exchange has surged to multi-year highs, indicating that market makers and large liquidity providers are preparing for sustained price movements or increased volatility. This liquidity injection reflects a bullish sentiment among market participants.

The rally witnessed a breakout from a falling wedge pattern, a technical formation often signaling bullish reversals. The momentum was further boosted by short liquidations that compelled traders who had bet against XRP to buy back positions to cover their losses.

Trading data reveals that the Taker Buy Ratio has crossed into a range indicating aggressive buying behavior. Furthermore, the transaction count on the XRPL decentralized exchange has increased significantly, illustrating that market depth is aligning with growing organic demand.

In the futures market, open interest in XRP contracts has risen to its highest level since November, with derivatives volume reaching levels not seen in many months.

Ripple has also taken strategic steps by acquiring custody and treasury firms, as well as rebranding a global prime broker as Ripple Prime. The company has developed infrastructure akin to traditional market-structure platforms, allowing enterprises to explore on-chain settlement.

Industry observers note that market participants are now viewing XRP as a potential utility asset within regulated payments, instead of solely as a speculative investment.