Can XRP Ever Hit $100?

Core Viewpoint - XRP has seen a significant price increase of over 16.2% in early 2026, trading near $2.14, but the possibility of reaching the ambitious $100 price point is under debate among investors [1]. Regulatory Developments - The U.S. SEC settled its case against Ripple Labs in August 2025, confirming that XRP is not classified as a security in secondary markets, which has positively impacted investor sentiment [2]. - The lawsuit had previously limited XRP's market potential, liquidity, and institutional credibility, but the resolution has restored normal economic functions [3]. Supply Dynamics - XRP reserves on centralized exchanges decreased from 4 billion tokens in January 2025 to approximately 1.6 to 1.7 billion tokens by December 2025, indicating a tightening supply [4]. - Ripple released one billion XRP from escrow on January 1, 2026, as part of its supply management strategy, which may influence short-term price movements due to reduced liquidity [5]. Market Trends - U.S. spot XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) launched in late 2025 attracted $1.2 billion in net inflows, although there was a small outflow in early January 2026, indicating a shift towards long-term custody of XRP [6]. - Despite favorable trends, reaching a $100 price point for XRP would require a market capitalization exceeding $6 trillion, which is considered unlikely due to the nature of XRP's utility in cross-border payments [7].