NEW YORK, Jan 3, 2026, 12:26 ET — Market closed
XRP traded around $2.01 on Saturday, down about 0.1% on the day after a near 7% rise on Friday that lifted the token back above the $2 level. It has moved between roughly $1.99 and $2.05 so far on Saturday, Investing.com data showed.
The $2 handle is back in play as investors weigh a new demand channel — spot XRP exchange-traded funds — against shifting U.S. regulatory headlines and the usual early-year repositioning in crypto.
Binance News, citing SoSoValue data, said spot XRP ETFs recorded $13.59 million of net inflows on Jan. 2 (Eastern Time), led by Franklin’s XRPZ with $9.72 million. The report pegged cumulative net inflows since launch at $1.18 billion and total net assets at $1.37 billion.
Those flows matter because spot ETFs — funds designed to hold the underlying token rather than futures contracts — let investors buy XRP exposure through traditional brokerage accounts, potentially amplifying moves when allocation shifts accelerate.
Grayscale’s GXRP, one of the U.S.-listed XRP products, showed about $241.9 million of assets under management as of Jan. 2, its website showed. GXRP’s market price was $38.47 at the end of Friday, up 8.37% on the day, according to the same disclosure.
Regulatory headlines also fed into sentiment. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said on Friday that Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw is departing the agency.
XRP’s move came alongside strength in the broader crypto complex, with bitcoin trading near $90,000 and ether above $3,000, The Economic Times reported. “Global markets remain cautious as mixed macro signals and uneven liquidity conditions keep investors selective about risk exposure,” said Nischal Shetty, founder of crypto exchange WazirX. The Economic Times
Supply is another near-term watchpoint. Ripple carried out its first scheduled XRP escrow unlock of 2026 on Jan. 1, releasing 1 billion XRP across three transactions, crypto.news reported. Escrow is a time-lock system used to release tokens on a preset schedule.
Ripple set up the escrow program in 2017 to control the release of 55 billion XRP, unlocking up to 1 billion XRP a month, Reuters Practical Law reported.
With U.S. equity markets shut for the weekend, the next read on ETF flows will come when exchanges reopen, leaving spot crypto trading to set the tone. Traders are watching whether XRP can hold above $2 and whether unlocked escrow coins move into the market.
Before the next session, attention will also turn to the U.S. ISM manufacturing survey due on Monday, an event that can move bond yields and the dollar and spill over into risk assets including crypto.
Later next week, investors will parse the U.S. employment report due Jan. 9 and the December consumer price index report due Jan. 13 for clues on the Federal Reserve’s rate path, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics release calendar.
For now, the $2 level is the immediate reference point for XRP, while bitcoin and ether direction continues to set the broader tape. Any surprise in ETF flow updates or Ripple token movements may decide whether this week’s rebound extends or stalls.
