Yeliz Akmaca 
The crypto market is showing recovery signals in the first week of 2026. XRP surged 12.34% on Tuesday to $2.4, reaching its highest level since mid-November. This move was supported by strong trading volume and ETF inflows. Analysts highlight that investors are increasingly exploring alternatives beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.
BTC Markets analyst Rachael Lucas said, “XRP broke out of a falling wedge pattern and sustained above its 50-day moving average. Aggressive short liquidations also occurred. Investors closed $250 million in short positions in just one hour. This was a key factor fueling the rapid upward movement.”
ETF Inflows and Investor Interest
Kronos Research CIO Vincent Liu noted that strong net inflows into spot XRP ETFs further accelerated the rally. Data from SoSoValue shows ETFs recorded $46.1 million in net inflows on Monday—the highest daily inflow since December 3. Total trading volume reached $72.15 million, the second-highest since November 24.
Rising ETF interest indicates that investors are increasingly viewing XRP as a long-term payment and liquidity asset rather than a short-term speculative instrument. Lucas added, “Demand is supported by clearer regulatory conditions after the Ripple-SEC settlement and XRP’s role in cross-border payments.”
Technical Analysis and On-Chain Insights
Ripple XRP’s gains are not limited to price action. On-chain data shows long-term holders have accelerated accumulation, increasing daily net holdings from roughly 9 million XRP to about 47 million XRP since December 30—a rise of over 420%.
However, profit-taking pressure is also increasing. Long-term holder NUPL (net unrealized profit/loss) has returned to early December levels, indicating some holders are taking profits. This adds short-term volatility while keeping market direction under close watch.
Across the broader market, Bitcoin has risen 7.4% over the past week to $93,719, while Ethereum gained 9.3% to $3,225. The GMCI 30 index increased 3.31% in the last 24 hours and 12.33% over the week. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index reached 26, a notable recovery from 11 in mid-December.
Short-term volatility continues for investors, while ETF interest and XRP’s adoption narrative support the upward price trend.
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