New York, January 13, 2026, 14:01 EST — Market open
- XRP climbed roughly 1.7% to around $2.11 as traders digested a fresh U.S. Senate draft proposing crypto market regulations.
- The proposal aims to transfer crucial oversight to the CFTC and impose stricter limits on stablecoin “interest” payouts.
- Attention shifts to Thursday’s committee markup and the upcoming U.S. inflation report for the next market move.
XRP climbed roughly 1.7% on Tuesday, reaching $2.11, following a broader uptick among top cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin increased by around 1.9%, while ether jumped about 3.3%, according to CoinMarketCap data. 1
The bid came after late Monday saw a draft of U.S. legislation outlining a regulatory framework for crypto markets and clarifying when tokens qualify as securities or commodities. The proposal assigns the Commodity Futures Trading Commission authority over spot crypto markets—essentially cash token trading—and prohibits firms from paying interest just for holding dollar-pegged stablecoins. However, it permits rewards linked to activities like payments, Reuters reported. 2
XRP hits an old sore spot. The token is tied to Ripple, a crypto payments company, and has long sparked debate about how U.S. law defines a “crypto asset.”
Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul Atkins described this as “a big week for crypto” in a post on X, emphasizing that clearing up the “regulatory gray zone” remains the top focus. LMAX Group strategist Joel Kruger noted recent price moves point to bitcoin and ether building “bullish continuation structures,” with institutional buyers stepping in on dips. 3
XRP has fluctuated between $2.05 and $2.11 on Tuesday, following a Monday close near $2.06, per Twelve Data pricing from the OKX market. Tuesday’s action is reflecting positioning ahead of Washington developments rather than strong momentum. 4
Exchange-traded products have made XRP a more straightforward policy play for certain investors, though the narrative isn’t one-sided. Since their debut in November, XRP ETFs have amassed over $1 billion. Still, Brian Huang, co-founder of investment platform Glider, told DL News that “no one in the crypto industry takes XRP seriously.” 5
Macro factors continue to dominate the tape. Investors are gearing up for the U.S. December consumer price index, with forecasts pointing to a slight rise in core inflation to around 2.7%. At the same time, political pressure on the Federal Reserve is stirring debate over the central bank’s independence, according to Reuters’ Morning Bid. 6
Crypto has behaved like a high-beta risk asset throughout much of the past year, moving in step with equities, yields, and the dollar. So, changes in rate expectations — beyond just crypto-specific policy — directly influence XRP’s daily swings.
The risk is the Senate draft dragging into a protracted, chaotic battle. Amendments could alter the text, and the bill still needs approval from both chambers — creating ample opportunity for delays that leave traders reacting to headlines rather than focusing on fundamentals.
The next key date is Thursday, when the Senate Banking Committee will hold a markup session to debate, amend, and vote on the proposal before it advances.
XRP traders are focused on the committee’s wording around token classification and how the lines between the SEC and CFTC are drawn. Thursday’s markup session will be the next key trigger.
