XRP is entering 2026 with a paradox: institutional demand for US XRP spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) has surged past $1.4 billion in just months, outpacing the launch of Dogecoin and Solana funds alongside it, yet the token hovers near $2 under pressure.
On an otherwise dormant day for cryptocurrency markets, XRP spot ETFs stood out with $1.98 million in net inflows, a modest but notable performance amid the month of March 2026 with only four positive inflow days.
The data highlights sustained institutional appetite for XRP exposure, even as the token's price remains stuck at $1.40, pressured by massive $738 million in exchange outflows recorded within a single 24-hour period.
Read More: Why is Crypto Crashing? Crypto Watch Desk
Price Pressure and Bearish Warnings
Despite institutional inflows, XRP started 2026 under pressure near $2 support levels. Though the token jumped 25% in the first week of 2026, it faces critical technical support at $1.85-$1.80 (the 100-week exponential moving average). Veteran trader Peter Brandt has warned of a potential double-top formation that could send XRP below $1, with long liquidations possibly hitting $1.61 before stabilizing at $1.38.
Macro risks also loom. Trump administration's wars and tariff threats could trigger broader market volatility and ETF outflows, echoing bearish patterns from 2021. While 2025 delivered legal victories and ETF launches, XRP's price gains remained muted, testing investor patience.
Read More: Crypto Layoffs 2026: Crypto Watch Desk
The Case for Upside: Forecasts Ranging from $4 to $14
If December's $483 million monthly pace continues, analysts project ETFs could accumulate $5.8 billion by year-end 2026, locking up 2.9 billion XRP (4.4% of supply) and creating structural upward pressure.
Katherine Dowling of Bitcoin Standard Treasury attributes XRP's strength to regulatory tailwinds, including the Clarity Act, which Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse gives a 90% chance of passing by April 2026, as well as expanding business partnerships. Speculation is also building that BlackRock may file for a spot XRP ETF in late 2026 or early 2027, given the asset manager's use of Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin infrastructure.
Beyond ETFs, the XRP Ledger has tokenized over $2 billion in real-world assets, and Ripple's On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) volumes are projected to grow 30-50% with integrations in Japan and South Korea.
Quick Recap: How XRP ETFs Achieved Record-Breaking Inflows
US-listed spot XRP ETFs launched in mid-November 2025, shortly after Ripple's May 8, 2025 settlement with the SEC ended a years-long lawsuit over whether XRP constituted an unregistered security. The legal victory catalyzed a rally to a seven-year high on July 18, 2025, before pulling back to $2.73.
The ETFs capitalized on this momentum. In their first 24 consecutive inflow days, they attracted $1.06 billion, pushing total assets beyond $1.14 billion—equivalent to 2.3% of XRP's total supply. By early 2026, cumulative inflows reached $1.3 to $1.52 billion, with December 2025 alone contributing $483 million. The funds now hold 746 million XRP, representing 1.14% of the 65.5 billion tokens in circulation, making XRP the second-fastest ETF to reach $1 billion after Bitcoin.