New York, Feb 15, 2026, 12:25 EST — Market closed.
- Weekend trading saw XRP edge higher as investor flows shifted back into the big-name tokens.
- Softer inflation data has traders eyeing U.S. rate cuts again.
- Traders are eyeing whether these moves stick as liquidity comes back after the holiday.
XRP climbed Sunday, most recently gaining 3.3% to trade near $1.52, having swung between $1.47 and $1.66 in the last 24 hours. Bitcoin stayed close to $69,000, while ether was holding just above $2,006, CoinMarketCap figures show.
Timing is key here. With U.S. equity and bond markets closed Monday for Presidents Day, price discovery tends to spill over into crypto markets—which, unlike traditional assets, never stop trading.
Macro factors have been at the center. U.S. inflation numbers on Friday surprised to the downside, keeping hopes for rate cuts this year intact. “The inflation report is better than expected particularly at the nominal level … This is good news for the Fed,” said Phil Orlando, chief market strategist at Federated Hermes. Josh Jamner, senior investment strategy analyst at ClearBridge Investments, noted, “A tame January inflation reading lifted risk assets this morning, however price pressures percolating beneath the surface should temper the optimism.” Reuters
Crypto prices keep following rate swings. Higher yields usually push traders to seek bigger risk premiums for holding these volatile tokens. But once yields slip, that trade can turn on a dime.
XRP has stayed in the spotlight thanks to a string of Ripple-related headlines. On Feb. 12, Binance announced it had wrapped up integrating Ripple USD (RLUSD) with the XRP Ledger and began accepting deposits; withdrawals will be enabled once liquidity hits the necessary level. Stablecoins like this are built to maintain a fixed value, typically by mirroring a fiat currency.
Regulators are recalibrating, too. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission tapped Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse for its Innovation Advisory Committee, adding him to a lineup featuring upper management from top crypto and market companies.
Regulatory clouds continue to linger over XRP. After dropping its lawsuit against Ripple in August 2025, the SEC left behind a $125 million penalty and an injunction affecting certain institutional sales, according to Reuters.
Even so, gains made over the weekend don’t always stick. With thinner liquidity, the market can turn quickly if there’s a headline on rates or regulation before U.S. cash hours return.
Midweek brings the next set of numbers. On Wednesday, Feb. 18, the Federal Reserve will release minutes from its Jan. 27-28 meeting. Not far behind, the U.S. PCE price index — the inflation measure favored by the Fed — drops Feb. 20.
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