XRP is once again drawing attention as long-term holding metrics reach record highs, reinforcing the view among analysts that conviction not speculation may define the token’s next major move. While short-term volatility persists, some market observers argue the structure is quietly aligning for a potential new all-time high heading into 2026.
Key Developments
On-chain data shows that the share of XRP supply held by long-term investors has climbed to its highest level on record. Analysts interpret this trend as a sign that fewer tokens are available for rapid selling, tightening effective supply during periods of renewed demand.
XRP has recently traded around the $2 level, giving it a market capitalization in the $120–$130 billion range. That places it well below Bitcoin’s valuation, yet large enough that future upside depends on sustained adoption rather than speculative bursts.
Market Impact
Market strategists note that if XRP were ever to approach Bitcoin’s valuation, price models point toward levels near $25–$30 far below the four-digit forecasts sometimes circulated on social media. The key question is not how high XRP can theoretically go, but how much real economic activity flows back into the token itself.
Ripple’s expanding role in cross-border payments, liquidity provisioning, and enterprise settlement remains central to that equation. Increased transaction volume alone is not enough; value must accrue to XRP at the protocol level.
Expert Insights
Analysts emphasize that XRP’s upside will be shaped by market share in global payments, competition from faster chains, and regulatory clarity in key jurisdictions. Strong holding behavior suggests confidence, but long-term appreciation hinges on XRP becoming embedded in financial infrastructure rather than serving as a speculative proxy.
Technical Outlook: $2.40 Pivot Could Define XRP’s 2026 Trajectory
From a technical perspective, the XRP price prediction hinges on how price behaves around a well-defined support and resistance structure. On the daily chart, XRP continues to consolidate above the $2.00 level, a zone that has repeatedly absorbed selling pressure following the recent pullback. This area, roughly between $2.00 and $2.05, has emerged as a clear demand region, helping establish a short-term base.
As long as XRP holds above this support band, downside risk appears contained, with the next major support only coming into focus near $1.80, where buyers previously stepped in during broader market weakness.
On the upside, technical structure shows that $2.38–$2.40 is the decisive pivot zone. A sustained daily close above this range would likely invalidate the current consolidation pattern and open the door for a renewed upside move. If bulls reclaim this level with volume, analysts say it could act as the launchpad for a broader XRP rally extending into 2026, shifting market bias firmly back toward trend continuation rather than range-bound trading.
Conclusion
XRP’s record holding levels signal growing belief in its long-term role, but a push toward new all-time highs will depend on execution, adoption, and value capture. As 2026 approaches, XRP appears less driven by hype cycles and more by whether Ripple can turn infrastructure ambition into sustained demand.
