XRP Wipes Gains: Can 2026 Spark a Comeback?

XRP just erased every shred of progress made since 2024. The digital asset, once a darling of the payments-focused crypto crowd, now trades at levels that feel like a distant memory. Market watchers are left staring at charts, wondering if this is the bottom or just another stop on the way down.

The Bleak Landscape

Forget the rallies. Ignore the hype. The price action tells a brutal story of consistent erosion. Each minor uptick has been met with overwhelming selling pressure, a classic sign of a market that's lost its fundamental narrative. The so-called 'utility token' is struggling to prove its utility matters when sentiment turns this sour.

2026: A Distant Beacon?

All eyes are shifting to the next calendar. Can 2026 be the year? Proponents point to potential regulatory clarity finally materializing, or a broader market cycle lifting all boats—even the leaky ones. It's a hope trade, pure and simple, the kind that keeps bag holders holding and traditional finance veterans smirking into their cappuccinos. They've seen this movie before: a asset hyped on future promises that never quite arrive on schedule.

The path forward isn't about waiting for a miracle. It's about the cold, hard factors of adoption, liquidity, and a reason to exist that goes beyond a two-year-old court ruling. The clock is ticking. XRP either carves a new niche in a crowded financial ecosystem by 2026, or it risks becoming a permanent cautionary tale—a digital reminder that in crypto, past performance really doesn't guarantee a damn thing.

Will XRP Recover in 2026?

2026 may bring plenty of surprises for cryptocurrency investors. In a recent Grayscale report, the financial institution proposed a new thesis that claims that Bitcoin (BTC) may be following a 5-year cycle, and not a 4-year cycle. If true, it would mean that the original crypto will climb to a new all-time high next year. BTC hitting a new peak will likely lead to other assets following suit. XRP could hit a new all-time high under such conditions.

Moreover, there is a high chance that the Federal Reserve will announce another interest rate cut later this month. Another rate cut could lead to a surge in crypto investments. XRP’s price could take off if another rate cut is announced.

Lastly, XRP saw the launch of a few ETFs this year. ETF inflows are currently down, but could pick up over the coming weeks. ETFs allow financial institutions to open their doors to crypto. XRP ETFs could push the asset’s price to never-before-seen price levels.

There are a lot of reasons for a bullish trajectory in 2026. However, XRP’s price could fall victim to macroeconomic and geopolitical factors. Although things look positive for 2026, how they actually unfold is yet to be seen.