XRP is reclaiming the spotlight in the crypto market in 2026, emerging as one of the strongest contenders in the current cycle.
As investor focus shifts toward assets with more straightforward utility and improving sentiment, the token is increasingly outperforming long-established leaders Bitcoin and Ethereum. This growing preference signals a potential change in market leadership.
Investor Attention Shifts To Altcoin
According to a recent CNBC report, XRP has emerged as the new darling of the cryptocurrency market, surpassing Bitcoin and Ethereum in 2026. CNBC’s finance and tech correspondent Mackenzie Sigalos revealed this information at the news media’s “Power Lunch” segment.
Sigalos highlighted that XRP has continually outperformed BTC and ETH, remaining resilient even during the broader market crash. She noted that investors continued to buy the token during the Q4 2025 dip and that this increased appetite persisted, with the payment-focused token experiencing an over 20% surge just seven days into the year.
Interestingly, over the same period, BTC has risen 9%, while ETH has only increased 4%, putting XRP ahead of the pack. Interestingly, Sigalos highlighted regulatory clarity as one of the reasons why money is flowing into the token.
In August 2025, Ripple ended its legal tussle with the US SEC after more than 4 years of struggle. Meanwhile, the CNBC correspondent cited the second reason as XRP being a less crowded trade than BTC and ETH.
Network Activity and Utility Fuel Rise
During the discussion, Sigalos also highlighted the token’s utility as one of the key factors that distinguish it from other cryptocurrencies. According to her, XRP’s position as a bridge asset and cross-border payment solution makes it a unique player in the blockchain industry. Additionally, its low transaction costs and fast settlement times also give it a competitive edge over Bitcoin and Ethereum for specific use cases.
Ripple’s continued expansion of payment corridors and partnerships with financial institutions has also reinforced XRP’s role as a bridge asset for global transactions. Meanwhile, the remarkable success of XRP ETFs has also indicated a shift in investor sentiment towards altcoin funds.
Interestingly, XRP ETFs reached $1 billion in AuM in just 4 weeks and are yet to record a single outflow. BTC and ETH ETFs, on the other hand, have been continually plagued by heavy outflows.
XRP Price Action
According to CoinMarketCap, XRP is trading around $2.25, down 4.7% over the past 24 hours. Interestingly, in early 2026, the token regained its position as the fourth-largest cryptocurrency in the market.
Technical analysts point to improving support levels and rising trading volumes as signs that XRP’s trend remains intact. If momentum continues, the token could challenge key resistance zones that previously capped short-term rallies.
However, Standard Chartered analyst Geoffrey Kendrick had speculated a 330% upside for the token in 2026, predicting that it would surge to $8. This outperformance of BTC and ETH could be setting the precedent for the rally.
Temitope Olajide
