Entering 2026, the power dynamics in the crypto market are quietly shifting. XRP, which has long been in the spotlight due to legal disputes, is regaining market influence through substantial capital inflows and price performance. As its market cap surpasses BNB, XRP officially secures its position as the fourth-largest cryptocurrency globally. This change is seen as a significant signal for this bull market.
The core factor driving XRP’s “decoupling” from the broader market is the continuous increase in institutional funds into XRP ETFs. According to SoSoValue data, Ripple (XRP) spot ETF recorded approximately $13.6 million in net inflows within 24 hours, pushing the total net inflow to $1.18 billion, with total net assets reaching about $1.37 billion. This performance highlights strong institutional demand for compliant investment channels for XRP.
From an industry-wide perspective, the return of institutional capital is not exclusive to XRP. On the same trading day, Bitcoin ETFs saw net inflows of about $471 million, and Ethereum ETFs attracted $174 million. However, compared to these, XRP’s growth is more structurally significant. It is opening up new institutional allocation options outside of BTC and ETH, reshaping the flow of funds in the altcoin market.
Price and technical indicators also confirm this trend. Over the past 24 hours, XRP’s price has increased by approximately 3.84%, approaching $2.07. The RSI remains in a healthy bullish zone, not yet entering overbought territory; the MACD shows a clear bullish crossover, indicating ongoing upward momentum. In contrast, BNB declined over 1% during the same period, showing clear pressure.
More notably, on-chain structural changes are worth paying attention to. Glassnode data shows that XRP balances on centralized exchanges have fallen to about 1.6 billion tokens, a new low since 2018, down approximately 57% from the peak at the end of 2025. The supply continues to tighten, resonating with ETF demand and providing medium- to long-term support for the price.
Overall, with XRP ETF capital inflows, declining exchange reserves, and the expansion of Ripple’s payment ecosystem, XRP may be at one of the most critical turning points in nearly a decade. If institutional demand persists, this market cycle could go far beyond a short-term rebound.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
XRP Begins Era as Commodity Under US Laws, Stuart Alderoty Reacts - U.Today
Stuart Alderoty, Ripple's CLO, welcomes the SEC's reclassification of XRP as a commodity, suggesting it could enhance adoption and ease exchange listings. Despite a recent price drop, XRP remains above key support levels, although trading volume has significantly decreased.
UToday7m ago
25% of XRP options on Deribit are concentrated at the 1.40 USD strike price with an expiration date of March 27
Gate News reports: On March 18, data shows that XRP is currently priced at approximately $1.50, slightly higher than the $1.40 strike price of the options cluster on Deribit. This cluster is valued at $14.6 million, accounting for about 25% of the total XRP options volume on Deribit, with an expiration date of March 27.
GateNews40m ago
Ripple Former CTO Discloses First XRP Email: 1,000 Tokens Worth $1,530 Today
On March 18, Ripple Chief Technology Officer David Schwartz shared the first email he received in 2013 mentioning XRP, showcasing XRP's early development. In the email, Vinnie Falco requested an XRP transfer, revealing the preliminary state of the crypto market at that time and the spirit of technical exploration. Falco later joined Ripple and made significant contributions to system development. This email reflects the early culture of the XRP community and technical accumulation, highlighting XRP's evolution from its inception to the present day.
GateNews3h ago
A certain CEX's trading volume reached $1.443 billion in the past 24 hours, with XRP, BTC, and ETH ranking in the top three.
According to Gate News, on March 18th, a certain CEX's trading volume was $1.443 billion, down 42.67%. The top five tokens were XRP, BTC, ETH, POLYX, and BTT, with trading volume shares of 12.90%, 7.95%, 6.91%, 6.10%, and 4.90% respectively.
GateNews3h ago
XRP Ledger Activity Surges as Price Holds Near Key Resistance
Key Insights
XRP Ledger processed over 2.5 million transactions in 24 hours, reflecting rising network engagement while the asset price remained stable near resistance.
XRP price holds near $1.41 while forming higher lows, indicating buyers continue supporting the asset despite repeated resis
CryptoFrontNews3h ago
