XRP News: Why XRP Is Outperforming Bitcoin and Ether at the Start of 2026
Binance News
Jan 7
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Verified Binance official account
AI Summary
XRP has emerged as one of the strongest-performing major cryptocurrencies at the start of 2026, significantly outpacing both Bitcoin and Ether as a mix of ETF inflows, bullish sentiment, tightening supply, and renewed institutional activity drives momentum.
The rally has been strong enough to attract mainstream attention. CNBC this week described XRP as the “new cryptocurrency darling,” highlighting its outsized gains relative to the rest of the market.
“The hottest crypto trade of the year is not Bitcoin, it is not Ether, it is XRP,” CNBC Power Lunch host Brian Sullivan said on Tuesday.
XRP price surges while majors lag
Since Jan. 1, XRP has gained roughly 25%, climbing to around $2.24. By comparison:
Bitcoin is up about 6% to roughly $91,900
Ether has risen about 10% to near $3,210
The performance gap suggests XRP’s move is being driven by token-specific catalysts, rather than a broad market rally.
ETF inflows set XRP apart
One of the most visible tailwinds has been strong and persistent inflows into spot XRP ETFs, particularly during the weak market conditions of late 2025.
CNBC reporter Mackenzie Sigalos noted that XRP ETF flows have behaved differently from Bitcoin and Ether ETFs.
“During the doldrums of Q4, a lot of people were piling into XRP ETFs — the exact opposite of what happens with spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs, where people move in tandem with the price of the coin,” she said.
The dynamic effectively made XRP a less crowded trade, allowing investors to position for a higher-percentage rebound.
According to Coinglass:
Spot XRP ETFs have seen nearly $100 million in inflows since the start of the year
Aggregate inflows now stand at about $1.15 billion
The products have not recorded a single outflow day
Monday marked the largest daily inflow in more than five weeks, reinforcing the sense of sustained institutional demand.
