XRP Flips BNB as Spot ETFs and Institutional Demand Spark 2026 Bull Run

• XRP jumped about 9% in 24 hours, briefly topping $2 and flipping BNB to rank as the fourth-largest crypto by market value.
  
• Spot XRP ETFs added $13.59 million on Jan 2, 2026; net inflows since Nov 2025 reached $1.18 billion, with AUM near $1.37 billion.

XRP price climbed 9% over the past 24 hours to trade above $2, with the rally pushing it past BNB by market value and placing Ripple’s token as the fourth-largest cryptocurrency. Market data put XRP’s market capitalization close to $124 billion, its highest since early December. This rally drew attention after a slow few weeks for XRP, with the trading volume and fund flows spiking on Friday. 

Notably, spot XRP exchange-traded funds fueled the price action, with inflows staying positive through recent volatility. On January 2, spot XRP ETFs recorded $13.59 million in net inflows, extending a streak that has lasted for weeks. 

The spot ETFs launched a few months back, as we reported, and since then, they have attracted about $1.18 billion in net inflows. Total assets under management rose to around $1.37 billion, making these regulated products a vital pillar in the XRP economy. Market analysts often use ETF flow data as a proxy for institutional demand.

XRP’s trading activity also increased sharply as the token surge sparked traders’ enthusiasm. 24-hour trading volume jumped 190% to $4 billion, signaling heavier participation across venues. Higher turnover can amplify short-term swings, especially when spot demand rises quickly. The price remained below the July 2025 high of $3.68, and the latest move still left a wide gap from prior peaks.

Broader market conditions improved at the same time, and major assets closed the week on a high. Bitcoin moved back above $90,000, and that helped lift sentiment across large-cap tokens. 

Earlier on, CNF reported how Bitcoin influenced XRP’s price action more than exchange supply trends. Bill Morgan said the “supply shock” narrative adds little when Bitcoin’s direction still drives broad crypto moves. He also pushed back on claims that falling exchange balances explain XRP rallies.

XRP ETF Inflows and Exchange Supply Tighten Liquidity

On-chain analytics indicated a decline in exchange balances for XRP. Exchange supply fell to an eight-year low, and reports showed more than 50% of XRP supply moved off exchanges into cold storage since October. This shift reduced liquid inventory available on trading platforms, and it can make prices more responsive when demand rises. 

Analysts also focused on the $2.00 to $2.17 zone, which has acted as resistance several times since November. A break above $2.17 would open the way toward $2.20 to $2.80, analysts say. Beyond that range, $3.00 remains a widely watched round number where profit-taking and repositioning will likely increase. 

At the time of writing, XRP was trading at just above $2. Its market cap stood at about $122 billion, while 24-hour trading volume rose to around $4.23 billion.