XRP surpassed the $2 mark on Friday for the first time since mid-December, continuing its impressive momentum into 2026. This surge is attributed to consistent inflows into spot ETFs and a more favorable regulatory outlook in the United States.
According to data from SoSoValue, U.S. spot XRP ETFs attracted $13.59 million on January 2nd alone, bringing total inflows since their inception to approximately $1.18 billion. This persistent demand has shifted short-term supply and demand dynamics in XRP’s favor, even as other major cryptocurrencies remain relatively stable within their trading ranges.
The price increase also coincides with a shift in market sentiment following the departure of SEC Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw. Many investors interpret her exit as paving the way for a regulatory environment that is more supportive of cryptocurrencies.
Crenshaw was known for her critical stance on crypto spot ETFs and opposed efforts by the SEC to drop its appeal in Ripple’s legal battle, according to industry analysts.
Adding fuel to XRP’s rally are expectations surrounding upcoming legislation. Market participants are eyeing a potential Market Structure Bill markup scheduled for January 15th, which has heightened anticipation around policy developments during Q1 and bolstered XRP’s performance relative to other tokens.
XRP’s robust gains stand out amid mixed investor interest across other leading crypto ETFs.
The same analytics reveal weaker inflows into bitcoin funds during this period, suggesting that XRP’s recent rise is driven more by factors unique to its ecosystem rather than broad market enthusiasm.
At last check, XRP traded slightly above $2—up roughly 8%—while bitcoin hovered just over $90,000 and ether remained near $3,000; both showing only modest daily increases.