Warsaw, Feb 20, 2026, 12:26 CET — Regular session
- XRP barely moved, holding close to $1.42 after trading between $1.39 and $1.43.
- Traders keep an eye on Washington, where negotiations over the CLARITY Act and rules for stablecoin yields are underway.
- Investors are waiting for U.S. inflation numbers out later Friday, which could sway sentiment for risk assets.
XRP held steady near $1.42 on Friday, barely budging as investors tracked U.S. inflation figures and developments in Washington’s crypto-policy talks. Over the past 24 hours, the token edged down just 0.01%, staying in a narrow range between $1.39 and $1.43, according to CoinMarketCap. Bitcoin added 1.43%. Ether dipped 0.10%. (CoinMarketCap)
Legislation is in the spotlight again after Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse bumped up his prediction for the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, now putting its chances at 90% to make it through Congress by late April. That’s according to Finviz, which cited Garlinghouse saying, “I think it’s now 90% it will pass by the end of April.” (Finviz)
That upbeat sentiment comes from ongoing discussions between crypto companies and banks about whether stablecoin issuers and platforms can offer “yield,” or payments to holders of tokens tied to the dollar. Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal called the White House session a positive one, saying in a statement quoted by Barron’s: “The dialogue was constructive and the tone cooperative. More to come.” (Barron’s)
The CLARITY Act, a market-structure bill, could finally establish federal guidelines for digital assets—regulation the sector claims is crucial for legal clarity in the U.S. But lawmakers remain hung up on stablecoin yield provisions. A White House meeting earlier this month didn’t resolve the deadlock, according to Reuters. (Reuters)
It’s not just about policy moves—the macro backdrop is front and center. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis drops its personal income and outlays report, featuring the Fed’s go-to inflation number, the PCE price index, at 8:30 a.m. ET Friday. Markets will also be parsing the first look at Q4 GDP from the same release. (Bureau of Economic Analysis)
Crypto traders are watching inflation numbers closely. A lower-than-expected print could spark fresh hopes for rate cuts, which tends to boost risk assets. But a higher figure? That scenario usually pushes yields up and chills demand for volatile tokens.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is approaching a key decision point. Feb. 26 is marked as the deadline for the agency to either greenlight, deny, or initiate proceedings on NYSE Arca’s pitch to list the T. Rowe Price Active Crypto ETF, according to a Federal Register filing. The proposed ETF would be actively managed and includes XRP among its “eligible assets.” Those wanting to submit written comments have until Feb. 23. (Federal Register)
Investors looking for regulated exposure to XRP don’t have to wait for new products: exchange-traded products tied to the token are already out there. Franklin Templeton rolled out its Franklin XRP ETF (XRPZ) on NYSE Arca late in 2025, according to the firm. (United States)
Still, the risks are hard to ignore. Should negotiations at the White House stall over stablecoin yields, or if the bill gets delayed, that policy support for the sector could vanish fast. A hotter inflation print would also put the market’s rate-cut bets under pressure; according to Reuters, the dollar is on track for its sharpest weekly gain since October as the Fed turns more hawkish and Middle East tensions climb. (Reuters)
Right now, traders have their eyes on the upcoming U.S. PCE inflation numbers and GDP data set for release later Friday. Next up: the SEC’s comment deadline on Feb. 23, with a decision on the T. Rowe Price filing due Feb. 26.
