Can Its Current Surge Take XRP to $5?

Core Viewpoint - XRP has experienced a significant price increase of over 15% at the start of 2026, outperforming major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, but concerns exist regarding its potential for further growth due to its historical price limits and market dynamics [1]. Price Limitations - XRP's all-time high is $3.84, reached in January 2018, and it peaked at $3.65 in July 2025 before declining below $2 by year-end [2][6]. - The large circulating supply of XRP, currently at 60 billion coins, makes it unlikely to surpass a price of $5, which would imply a market cap of $300 billion [3][6]. Market Dynamics - The recent price surge of XRP is primarily attributed to the influx of over $1 billion into new spot XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which have gained popularity among institutional investors since their launch in November [4]. - Despite the initial excitement, the anticipated $8 billion inflow into these ETFs has not materialized, raising questions about the sustainability of XRP's price increase [5][7]. Trading Behavior - XRP tends to behave like a meme stock, influenced more by market sentiment and headlines than by fundamental factors, leading to volatility in its price [8].