XRP rises 13.7% supported by institutional ETFs and supply tightening

Source: PortaldoBitcoin Original Title: XRP surges 13% at the start of 2026 with ETF support and supply tightening Original Link: XRP has had a stellar start to 2026, gaining 13.7% over the past seven days. The cryptocurrency is trading around US$ 2.12, after reaching an intraday high of US$ 2.16 in the last 24 hours.

There is still a considerable path to renewing its all-time high. XRP reached its peak on July 18 of last year, when it hit US$ 3.65. At current prices, the asset is still about 41.7% below that record.

The recent appreciation has excited investors because it is anchored in signals considered more solid, pointing to the possibility of a more consistent and less speculative rally.

One of the main factors was the breakout of the relevant technical zone at US$ 2.10–US$ 2.12, a move that occurred with volume 47.6% above the weekly average. Technically, rises accompanied by high volume indicate greater conviction among buyers, increasing the reliability of the breakout.

Additionally, the price managed to stay above this level after the initial advance, rather than quickly giving back gains. This support above the previous resistance reinforces the view that the market has absorbed the new price range, opening space for a potential continuation of the movement.

ETF demand and exchange balances

Another important driver of the rally is institutional demand through XRP ETFs listed in the United States. Just at the beginning of the week, these products recorded US$ 13.59 million in new net inflows, a significant flow due to its consistency. This recurring demand has helped absorb the available supply, reducing selling pressure even during periods of higher volatility.

At the same time, XRP balances held on exchanges remain near multi-year lows. This behavior is generally interpreted as a sign of supply tightening, as fewer tokens are immediately available for sale. In such an environment, any firmer demand recovery tends to translate into faster and more intense price movements.

On the fundamental level, on-chain activity also shows improvement. The number of transactions on the XRP Ledger has returned to nearly 1 million per day, reinforcing the perception that interest in the asset goes beyond short-term speculation. This increase in network usage helps underpin the recent appreciation.