Key Insights:
- Analysts are predicting a short-term XRP price target at $3.00–$3.50 and further upside i the case of high-volume upside.
- Data from Santiment shows XRP Ledger whale transactions have surged to a three-month high.
- XRP has gained prominence in U.S. markets, with CNBC calling it the “hottest crypto trade of the year.”
Ripple’s native cryptocurrency XRP has seen significant volatility so far in 2026. XRP price has been oscillating between the lows of $1.86 and $2.40.
However, market experts believe that this could be the year for the Ripple crypto. With whale activity on the XRP Ledger rising significantly, experts have started giving targets as high as $10.
XRP Price Rally to $10 Possible, Says Expert
Crypto analyst Crypto Patel reported that the XRP price has seen a sharp rebound from a key support zone. In a very short time period, the Ripple crypto gave up to 35% gains.
According to Patel, XRP bounced cleanly from the $1.80–$1.70 support range, rallying to a recent high near $2.42. He said the move confirmed the strength of that support area and validated the bullish setup.
Looking ahead, the analyst identified $3.00 to $3.50 as the next short-term target zone. Patel added that the $3.50 level represents a major decision point for the market.
Patel stated that a breakout above $3.50 with strong volume strengthens the bullish case. Such momentum signals a higher probability of continued gains. He added that this would open the path to much higher long-term targets of $10 and beyond.
Patel emphasized that the broader trend stays constructive while XRP holds above the $1.80–$1.70 support. This range acts as a key foundation for sustaining bullish momentum.
However, amid the broader crypto market volatility, the XRP price is down 7% in the last 24 hours. At press time, XRP is trading at the support of $2.08, with daily trading volume dropping 21%.
XRP Price Rally Can Continue Amid Rising Whale Activity
Blockchain analytics firm Santiment reported a sharp increase in whale activity on the XRP Ledger. This points to a potential rise in market volatility.
Santiment reported that XRP Ledger transactions worth $100,000 or more rose to 2,170 on Monday. They then surged further to 2,802 on Tuesday, highlighting strong whale activity. The latest figure represents a three-month high in large-value transfers on the network.
Santiment noted that spikes in whale transactions often coincide with periods of elevated price volatility. Thus, the XRP price could potentially see larger-than-usual price swings in the near term.
Furthermore, Ripple’s XRP has become a hot discussion point in the US financial market. CNBC recently called XRP the “hottest crypto trade of the year,” eclipsing both Bitcoin and Ethereum in early 2026 market attention.
The designation reflects a shift in investor focus toward assets offering a larger percentage upside beyond the two largest cryptocurrencies. During CNBC’s Power Lunch segment on January 6, host Brian Sullivan said XRP has emerged as the standout trade so far this year.
“The hottest crypto trade of the year is not Bitcoin, it is not Ether, it is XRP,” Sullivan said on air. Following the recent XRP price upside, he said that big money is entering the crypto.
CNBC reporter Mackenzie Sigalos added that the trend began to take shape in late 2025. She said investor interest accelerated during the fourth quarter, when capital flowed steadily into XRP ETFs.
On the other hand, Bitcoin ETFs and Ethereum ETFs have underperformed throughout the last month.
However, after strong 6-8 weeks of inflows, the spot XRP ETF saw its first outflows of $40 million on Jan.7. SoSoValue data shows that the 21Shares XRP ETF led outflows at $47 million. At the same time, the rest other ETF issuers saw net inflows.
Bhushan is a FinTech enthusiast and holds a good flair for understanding financial markets. His interest in economics and finance draws his attention towards the new emerging Blockchain Technology and Cryptocurrency markets. He is continuously in a learning process and keeps himself motivated by sharing his acquired knowledge. In his free time, he reads thriller fiction novels and sometimes explores his culinary skills.
