New York, January 14, 2026, 14:00 EST — Regular session
- XRP rose roughly 1% to $2.13 following Ripple’s announcement of a new licensing milestone in Europe
- U.S. lawmakers are advancing a market-structure bill that would divide regulatory oversight between the SEC and CFTC
- Traders are focused on Thursday’s Senate Banking Committee markup, looking for any changes that might alter the timeline
XRP ticked up Wednesday after Ripple announced it had secured preliminary approval for an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) licence in Luxembourg. The token last traded 1.1% higher at $2.13, having ranged between $2.10 and $2.19 in the previous 24 hours. Bitcoin and ether also saw gains, according to CoinMarketCap. Ripple President Monica Long highlighted that Europe’s regulatory framework provides financial firms “the certainty” needed to shift blockchain projects beyond pilot phases to full commercial rollout. Meanwhile, Europe chief Cassie Craddock described Luxembourg as a “premier hub for financial innovation.” 1
This move is significant since XRP often acts like a political weather vane. Just a few words from regulators or discussions in Washington can quickly shift flows, particularly in altcoins still burdened by heavy regulatory uncertainty.
Luxembourg’s approval plays a key role here. An EMI licence allows companies to issue electronic money and offer regulated payment services. Ripple aims to use this licence to grow its cross-border payments footprint throughout Europe.
U.S. senators in Washington rolled out a draft market-structure bill late Monday aiming to clarify when crypto tokens qualify as securities or commodities. The legislation would also boost the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s oversight of spot markets, where tokens are directly bought and sold. Summer Mersinger, CEO of the Blockchain Association, said bank lobbyists are mounting a “relentless pressure campaign,” while Digital Chamber CEO Cody Carbone described the progress as “encouraging.” The bill seeks to curb interest payments tied solely to holding dollar-pegged stablecoins, a key sticking point between banks and crypto firms. With the 2026 midterms looming, the proposal faces a narrow political window. 2
The Senate Banking Committee scheduled a procedural markup for Thursday on the CLARITY Act, a market-structure bill designed to clearly define the boundaries between the SEC and the CFTC. 3
Analysts say regulation is the key short-term catalyst. “Regulatory developments in Washington are also helping support sentiment,” LMAX Group strategist Joel Kruger noted this week, as investors shifted their focus back to the sector. 4
Crypto-linked stocks showed a mixed performance in U.S. trading. Coinbase edged up a bit, Strategy climbed about 2.5%, and Robinhood dropped close to 2%. Bitcoin miners Riot Platforms and Marathon Digital both pushed higher.
But those tailwinds remain fragile. Ripple’s go-ahead in Luxembourg is only preliminary and comes with strings attached. The U.S. bill could still be amended or postponed — and when bitcoin falters, smaller tokens usually take the brunt as risk appetite wanes.
Traders face their next hurdle Thursday, January 15, as senators begin public markup of the legislation. The key issue: will the bill maintain its current form — particularly the SEC–CFTC division — or will new amendments emerge that could stall progress?
