XRP Market Cap Surge Threatens Ethereum's 'Main Altcoin' Status in 2026

Source: CoinEdition Original Title: XRP Market Cap Surge Threatens Ethereum’s ‘Main Altcoin’ Status in 2026 Original Link:

Key Highlights

• XRP-linked ETFs secured $1B in net inflows, defying a $10B sector-wide exodus from BTC and ETH.
• The XRP-Solana bridge and 30-day inflow streak fuel long-term $100 price targets for the asset.
• CF Benchmarks cites investor familiarity as a primary driver for the institutional pivot to XRP.

Analyst Outlook on XRP

One prominent analyst has made a bold statement that XRP could surpass Ethereum in market value by 2026. The analyst shared the view that XRP priced below $2 is extremely undervalued, does not plan to sell his holdings, and sees it as the main altcoin to watch heading into 2026. He also stated that XRP could reach $100 within the next five years.

Citing these statements, analysts have reacted and opened up about XRP’s expanding use. The recent integration with the Solana network has also strengthened long-term outlook on the token.

However, XRP currently trades around $1.89, giving it a market capitalization of roughly $116–129 billion, depending on price movements. Ethereum remains far ahead, with a market value of about $360 billion.

XRP ETFs Attract Steady Inflows

Investor interest in XRP has also been supported by strong demand for newly launched exchange-traded funds tied to the token. Since their debut in mid-November, XRP-linked ETFs have recorded net inflows every trading day, accumulating more than $1 billion in fresh capital.

By contrast, Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs have seen sustained outflows in recent weeks. Around $10 billion has exited Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF products over the same period, with Bitcoin ETFs alone recording about $800 million in outflows across several sessions this week.

Rotation From Bitcoin and Ethereum

Experts say some investors are reallocating funds from Bitcoin and Ethereum into alternative assets such as XRP and Solana.

According to CF Benchmarks, XRP’s long history in the crypto market has helped attract investors seeking familiarity. They also pointed to profit-taking after earlier rallies in the two largest cryptocurrencies, combined with declining prices, as reasons for the shift.

“Many investors are taking a position in XRP because of the familiarity. It has a long track record. Obviously, price performance has been pretty impressive over the past three or four years. So, yeah, there are a number of reasons that it’s attracting investor dollars.”

For now, XRP remains well behind Ethereum in size, and whether it can close that gap by 2026 remains uncertain.