The Potential of XRP: 4 Drivers in Q1/2026 Could Push the Price Beyond $8

As we enter the new year, the cryptocurrency market is gradually regaining optimism, and XRP has emerged as one of the most talked-about names. In particular, Standard Chartered has issued a positive forecast, suggesting that XRP could set a new all-time high around the $8 mark. Recently, market analyst Sam Daodu pointed out four key catalysts that could help XRP approach this milestone, possibly as early as Q1 2026.

1. CLARITY Act and Legal Transparency The first driver comes from the passage of the CLARITY Act – a bill concerning the structure of the crypto market, which is scheduled for review on January 15. According to Daodu, a clear legal framework will facilitate larger financial institutions to participate more actively in the XRP market, thereby boosting liquidity and long-term demand.
2. Ripple Approved to Establish a National Trust Bank Ripple – the company behind XRP – has received conditional approval from the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to launch Ripple National Trust Bank, a federally supervised trust organization. This is a significant step forward, helping Ripple expand its operations within the traditional financial system and strengthening institutional investors’ confidence in the XRP ecosystem.
3. Strong Capital Flows from XRP ETF Funds There are currently 7 spot XRP ETFs trading in the US, with total assets under management exceeding $2 billion and holding approximately 777 million XRP. If capital continues to flow strongly into these funds as at the end of 2025 ($300–$500 million per month), then by mid-2026, an additional 750 million to 1.25 billion XRP could be “locked” within ETFs, exerting downward pressure on supply in the market.
4. Growth of RLUSD Stablecoin Another important factor is the development of RLUSD – a stablecoin issued by Ripple, which has now reached a market capitalization of about $1.33 billion and ranks third among regulated stablecoins in the US. As banks begin to deploy RLUSD across multiple payment corridors, activities on the XRP Ledger are expected to increase significantly. Network fees paid in XRP will create a direct link between stablecoin expansion and long-term XRP demand. Optimistic Scenario for XRP Based on these factors, Sam Daodu presents a “bull case” scenario where XRP could reach a price range of $8 to $10. This largely depends on sustained demand from institutions and steady capital flows into ETFs. If the positive trend continues, supply pressure will become increasingly evident, creating conditions for XRP to break out strongly. At the time of writing, XRP – the fifth-largest cryptocurrency by market cap – is trading around $2.13, up approximately 3.7% in the latest session. With a series of new drivers from legal, banking, ETF, and stablecoin developments, XRP is entering a phase with many opportunities for strong growth in 2026.