CNBC just named XRP (XRP) the most popular crypto trade of the yr as strong price motion puts the token back within the highlight.
The altcoin began 2026 well, posting the second-largest gains among the many top 20 cryptocurrencies by market cap.
XRP outperforms its large-cap competitors in early 2026
Data from BeInCrypto Markets showed that XRP's value has increased by 24% for the reason that starting of January 2026, significantly outpacing Bitcoin's (BTC) gain of 5.5% and Ethereum's (ETH) return of 9.7%.
XRP's advance makes it one in all the best-performing firms within the large-cap segment, right behind Dogecoin (DOGE). The meme coin is up 28.6% and currently leads the highest 20 by year-to-date returns.
The rally has also allowed XRP to overtake BNB and grow to be the fourth-largest digital asset by market cap. However, the movement was not linear.
The broader crypto market experienced a slight correction today driven by profit-taking after nearly per week of sustained gains. As a result, XRP also experienced a pullback. At the time of writing, XRP was trading at $2.28. This represented a 2.47% decline within the last 24 hours.
CNBC highlights XRP because the “recent cryptocurrency darling” of 2026
Despite the short-term correction, XRP’s overall rally has not gone unnoticed. CNBC noted that XRP has quietly grow to be the breakout trade of the 2026 cryptocurrency rally, even calling it the “recent cryptocurrency darling.”
“The hottest crypto trade of the yr isn’t Bitcoin, it’s not Ether, it’s XRP,” explained Brian Sullivan, host of CNBC’s Power Lunch.
CNBC host Mackenzie Sigalos explained that XRP attracted investors at a time when general interest in most major cryptocurrencies was muted, and that it ultimately paid off. During the weak market conditions within the fourth quarter, many investors increased their exposure to XRP ETFs.
This stood out because investors are inclined to follow price momentum in spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs. With XRP the behavior was reversed.
“But it was the incontrovertible fact that it's a approach to get a better percentage jump. So within the fourth quarter, people bought the dip with XRP, considering this was a less crowded trade than Bitcoin or Ether. And then that turned out to be true. Just in the primary six trading days in January,” Sigalos noted.
BeInCrypto recently reported that XRP ETFs have seen uninterrupted inflows since their launch. Data from SoSoValue shows that cumulative inflows into XRP spot ETFs have reached $1.25 billion. The products generated net inflows of $19.12 million on January 6.
XRP ETF inflows. Source: SoSoValue
Analyst Chad Steingraber predicted that continued ETF inflows could end in as much as 4.8 billion XRP being absorbed by ETFs by 2026, based on assumed day by day purchases of 20 million XRP.
“What happens if the XRP ETFs take 20 million XRP per time out of the market?….20 million XRP per day x5 – 100 million
Should such sustained accumulation occur, it could significantly reduce available market supply. Depending on overall demand and market conditions, this might potentially put upward pressure on the value of XRP. In addition to ETFs, Sigalos noted that XRP's long-standing role in cross-border payments has strengthened its narrative.
However, analyst Dom argued that the XRP price increase was not as a result of strong buying demand, but moderately as a result of other aspects. In particular, the very low demand liquidity (seller liquidity) has created the conditions for a price increase.
“This was not as a result of aggressive market buying. Most exchanges have negative net taker volume, showing the difference between real demand and unique order book dynamics,” he said. “I shall be keeping a detailed eye on developments as any such growth isn’t ideal unless offers begin to be pursued and supported.”
While XRP's strong begin to 2026 and continued ETF inflows have reinforced the breakout narrative, analysts remain divided on the sustainability of the rally. It stays to be seen whether the present upward trend can proceed.
The post CNBC Names XRP Hottest Crypto Trade of 2026 Amid Strong January Rally appeared first on BeInCrypto.
Article source: beincrypto.com
The post CNBC Names XRP Hottest Crypto Trade of 2026 Amid Strong January Rally appeared first on Crypto Adventure.
