Warsaw, February 6, 2026, 14:36 CET — Regular session
- XRP bounced back following an initial drop, highlighting just how quickly leverage can flip crypto markets.
- Long-term XRP price predictions for 2026 remain tied to ETF interest and how regulators proceed.
XRP climbed roughly 6% to $1.43 on Friday, rebounding from a sharp drop of nearly 16% to $1.13 earlier in the session. Bitcoin lost around 3%, hitting $67,201, while ether slipped about 5% to $1,952.
The recent whipsaw is pushing investors to rethink the XRP price forecast for 2026, and it’s happening at a tough time for risky bets. A lot of long-term “XRP price prediction 2026” projections hinge on demand from exchange-traded funds, or ETFs — stock-market vehicles tracking the asset — even as macro traders pull back their exposure.
Crypto’s recent drop mirrors a sell-off in tech stocks and a rapid unwinding of crowded trades, Reuters reported, putting bitcoin on track for its worst week since late 2022 despite a rebound. “A lot of these big crowded positions are being unwound very, very quickly,” said Chris Weston, head of research at brokerage Pepperstone. 1
Regulators piled on pressure. On Friday, China’s central bank announced it would clamp down harder on virtual currencies, labeling related business operations as “illegal financial activities.” 2
Ripple, the payments company tied to XRP, has pushed further into regulatory territory. According to The Paypers, it secured full authorization as an Electronic Money Institution in Luxembourg. This move allows it to passport some services throughout the EU under the bloc’s e-money rules. 3
Asset manager 21Shares laid out a 2026 price range for XRP: a base case at $2.45, a bull case at $2.69, and a bear case at $1.60. Their forecast hinges on steady ETF inflows and clear evidence of usage, steering clear of court drama. They also flagged a “sell the news” risk if widespread adoption fails to materialize. 4
Some projections are even more bullish. Geoffrey Kendrick, Standard Chartered’s head of digital assets research, predicts XRP could hit $8 by 2026. He points to regulatory clarity and the rollout of spot XRP ETFs as key drivers that would boost institutional participation. 5
Kendrick maintains that the token’s main focus remains payments. “XRP sits uniquely at the center of one of the fastest-growing digital asset use cases — enabling cross-border and cross-currency payments,” he said in a note referenced by Nasdaq. 6
The ETF plumbing has become a routine part of the daily narrative. Grayscale’s XRP Trust ETF (GXRP), trading on NYSE Arca, currently benefits from a three-month fee waiver that expires on Feb. 24. After that date, the management fee will jump to 0.35%, per the firm’s fund disclosures. 7
The path to hitting any 2026 target looks bumpy. If stocks take a sharper risk-off turn, new regulatory pressure hits, or ETF appetite wanes, XRP could slip back into sentiment-driven swings. With liquidity thin, declines could happen quickly.
Traders are keeping an eye on U.S. interest-rate expectations and the ripple effects from the wider crypto slump hitting companies tied to digital assets. “As Bitcoin slips below the key $70,000 mark, it’s obvious the crypto market has entered full capitulation mode,” said Nic Puckrin, investment analyst and Coin Bureau co-founder, in a Reuters report on the selloff. 8
For the moment, the immediate test is straightforward: can XRP maintain levels above its session lows through the weekend? Also, will demand for regulated products remain strong once markets are back? Keep an eye on Feb. 24, too—that’s when the GXRP fee waiver ends and fees increase.
