XRP Could Stagnate in 2026 Until Major Catalysts Boost Its Momentum: Analysts

Crypto Analysts Predict Sideways Movement for XRP as Market Awaits Catalysts

As the new year begins, market analysts suggest that XRP’s price may remain relatively stable without significant upward or downward movement until upcoming bullish catalysts materialize. While some see potential for positive developments, overall sentiment remains cautious amid broader crypto market uncertainty.

Key Takeaways

• Market analysts expect XRP to trade sideways in the short term, awaiting major catalysts.
• Potential triggers include spot ETF approvals, integration with global payment systems, and efforts to establish XRP as a liquidity bridge.
• Current XRP price sits at $1.84, down over 14% since the start of the year.
• Recent XRP ETF demand indicates strong institutional interest, with assets surpassing $1 billion.

Tickers mentioned: XRP

Sentiment: Neutral

Price impact: Neutral. The cautious outlook reflects market indecision with no clear momentum in either direction.

Trading idea (Not Financial Advice): Hold. Given the sideways trend and upcoming catalysts, investors may prefer to wait for clearer signals.

Market context: The broader crypto market remains cautious, with Bitcoin’s current conditions unlikely to support a rally in altcoins like XRP in the near term.

Recently, XRP experienced a decline of 14.63% since January 1, trading around $1.84. Over the past month, the asset has fallen approximately 17%, reflecting broader market volatility. Despite this, some experts see potential for stabilization, with Jesus Perez, CEO of Posidonia21 Capital Partners, noting that XRP is likely to consolidate around current levels rather than ignite a new trend.

Perez emphasized that XRP’s future price trajectory depends heavily on market sentiment and narrative persistence rather than fundamental changes alone. Meanwhile, recent performance of XRP-based ETFs reinforces its position: U.S.-based spot XRP ETFs have recently surpassed $1 billion in assets, driven partly by investor familiarity with the asset, according to CF Benchmarks CEO Sui Chung.

Chung notes XRP’s ETF success as a sign of sustained institutional interest. Analysts remain divided on the broader market trajectory, with some suggesting that the conditions for a new all-time high in Bitcoin are unlikely in the near future, which could weigh on altcoins including XRP.