XRP 2026 Price Prediction: Daily trading volume exceeds 1 million transactions, XRP challenges the $2.4 level

XRP at the beginning of 2026 has ushered in a strong “good start.” Its underlying network, XRP Ledger, has surpassed 1 million daily transactions, reaching a five-month high and demonstrating a significant on-chain revival of practicality. Meanwhile, XRP’s price has strongly broken through the key resistance of $2.10, forming a clear bullish breakout pattern on the technical side, with short-term targets pointing to the $2.28 to $2.40 range.

What is even more noteworthy is that Gottfried Leibbrandt, former CEO of SWIFT, the global interbank financial telecommunication association, publicly stated that once the regulatory environment stabilizes, the SWIFT network “will embrace” cryptocurrencies like XRP. The convergence of on-chain activity, market prices, and recognition from top traditional financial infrastructure creates a triple resonance, indicating that XRP may enter a new development phase driven by real utility in 2026.

Surge in On-Chain Activity: One Million Transactions Solidify XRP’s Value Foundation

Market enthusiasm is first validated most directly on the blockchain. According to data from Ripple’s official dashboard, since mid-December 2025, network usage of XRP Ledger has rebounded significantly, with daily transaction counts returning to around 1 million. This number is not only a five-month high but also a strong market signal: the XRP network is processing increasing amounts of real value transfers.

This surge in transaction volume is not driven solely by speculative market activity; it reflects a broader adoption of XRP’s core value proposition as a “high-efficiency settlement asset.” The growth is mainly driven by two factors: first, the increasing cross-border remittance flows; second, more financial platforms adopting XRP for fund settlements. This on-chain activity growth based on actual payment and settlement needs is fundamentally different from transactions driven purely by memes or hype, providing a more solid and sustainable fundamental support for XRP’s price. Historical data shows that significant spikes in XRP Ledger transaction volume often precede substantial price expansions. The current synchronization of on-chain activity and market price breakthroughs further confirms a close positive correlation between network utility and market valuation.

Key Data on Current Market and Technical Outlook for XRP

• Network Data:
  • XRP Ledger daily transaction volume: about 1 million (near 5-month high)
• Price Data:
  • Current price:突破 $2.10
  • Key support: $1.97
  • Short-term resistance: $2.21, $2.28
  • Mid-term target: $2.40 to $2.50
• Technical Indicators:
  • 4-hour chart 50-day moving average has crossed above the 100-day moving average (bullish golden cross)
  • RSI (Relative Strength Index): around 72, indicating strong momentum but not fully overbought

Technical Breakthrough: Multiple Bullish Signals Confirm Uptrend

Supported by robust on-chain data, the XRP price chart has also completed a key technical structural shift. Recently, the XRP/USD trading pair successfully broke through the long-term downtrend line formed since November 2025, marking a potential reversal of the months-long downward suppression pattern and returning market dominance to the bulls.

This breakout is validated by multiple technical indicators. On the 4-hour chart, the short-term moving average (50 EMA) has crossed above the long-term moving average (100 EMA), forming a classic “golden cross,” a strong signal of increasing short-term upward momentum. Meanwhile, the RSI hovers around 72, indicating a strong market but not entering extreme overbought territory, suggesting room for further continuation rather than short-term exhaustion. From candlestick patterns, the appearance of a “Red Three Soldiers” bullish formation accompanying this breakout indicates sustained and strong buying interest.

For traders, clear key level judgment is crucial. Currently, the $2.05 to $2.10 range is transforming from resistance into initial support, and consolidation in this zone can be seen as a springboard for further upward attack. Immediate targets are $2.21 and $2.28. As long as the price can remain firmly above the more critical support at $1.97, the current upward trend is likely to continue. Once the $2.28 resistance is successfully broken, market focus will shift entirely to the mid-term target zone of $2.40 to $2.50.

Recognition from Traditional Financial Leaders: Former SWIFT CEO Outlines XRP Integration Vision

Beyond market data, voices from the core of traditional finance add a more imaginative narrative for XRP’s future. Gottfried Leibbrandt, former CEO of SWIFT, recently made public comments outlining a clear roadmap for the integration of cryptocurrencies, especially XRP, into mainstream financial infrastructure.

Leibbrandt explicitly stated: “I believe that one important part of Ripple’s value proposition is XRP.” He admitted that currently, banks are cautious about adopting XRP mainly due to concerns over asset price volatility. His remarks reveal a common mindset among global financial institutions: while blockchain technology can bring faster and cheaper cross-border payments, the sharp fluctuations in digital asset values remain a significant business risk. However, he shifted to a key judgment: once the regulatory environment becomes clearer and market volatility moderates, SWIFT will be ready to embrace cryptocurrencies including XRP.

This statement is milestone-like. It indicates that the core barriers preventing large financial institutions from adopting cryptocurrencies are shifting from “technological feasibility” and “willingness” to “regulatory clarity” and “risk management,” which are more predictable and manageable issues. As key legislation like the US Market Structure Act advances, the regulatory “fog” is clearing. Leibbrandt’s comments strongly imply that for giants like SWIFT, integrating digital assets is no longer a question of “if,” but “when” and “how.” This provides substantial backing for XRP’s long-term institutional adoption prospects as a cross-border payment asset.

Triple-Driven Outlook for 2026: From Payment Tool to Financial Infrastructure

Looking ahead to 2026, XRP stands at a critical juncture driven by three forces: “on-chain utility,” “technological momentum,” and “regulatory and compliance integration.”

First, the virtuous cycle between network utility and price is expected to strengthen. The nearly one million daily transactions on XRP Ledger demonstrate expanding network effects. As Ripple deepens payment partnerships with more global financial institutions and its ODL (On-Demand Liquidity) solution is more widely adopted, on-chain settlement demand is expected to continue growing. This value flow driven by real business needs is the healthiest foundation for XRP valuation.

Second, the macro policy environment is shifting favorably. Not only is the US legislative process progressing, but globally, crypto asset regulation is moving from ambiguity to clarity. From Portugal’s parliament approving the inclusion of crypto asset service providers under central bank regulation to Hong Kong’s HKMA implementing Basel-standardized crypto capital rules for banks, mainstream financial systems are establishing standardized frameworks for crypto acceptance. This global “regulatory normalization” greatly reduces the compliance barriers and uncertainties for traditional institutions like SWIFT to integrate cryptocurrencies, opening unprecedented market space for assets like XRP.

Overall, XRP’s journey in 2026 may evolve from an “efficient payment token” to a “key financial settlement infrastructure.” In the short term, the market will focus on whether it can successfully challenge the $2.40 technical target. Long-term success will depend on its ability to continuously demonstrate, under an increasingly clear global regulatory framework, its irreplaceable role as a bridge between traditional finance and the blockchain-based value internet. When on-chain activity, market prices, and recognition from traditional finance form a synergistic force, XRP’s vision of a “future global payment system cornerstone” becomes clearer than ever.

Background Analysis: XRP and Ripple—Collaborative but Independent Twins

For new investors entering the market, clarifying the relationship between XRP and Ripple Inc. is crucial. Ripple is a US-based technology company focused on enterprise blockchain solutions and cross-border payment networks. XRP is an independent digital asset operating on the decentralized open-source blockchain—XRP Ledger.

Their relationship is that Ripple is one of the main holders and active promoters of XRP, with some commercial solutions (such as RippleNet’s ODL) utilizing XRP as a “bridge currency” for cross-border payments to achieve instant, low-cost fund settlements. However, the operation and governance of XRP Ledger are independent of Ripple Inc., and XRP’s value is not solely determined by Ripple’s business performance. This “collaborative yet independent” relationship means investing in XRP involves both optimism about Ripple’s global payment network adoption prospects and recognition of XRP Ledger’s long-term ecosystem value as an efficient public blockchain.

Global Regulatory Outlook: 2026, a Key Year for Crypto Industry “Maturity”

The opportunities XRP faces are embedded within a larger global context: the crypto industry is collectively experiencing a “regulatory maturity.” Starting in early 2026, the industry theme has shifted from “disruption and evasion” to “integration and responsibility.”

Regulatory agencies worldwide are acting at unprecedented speed and coordination. For example, in 2025, the US SEC and CFTC issued record fines targeting clear fraud, signaling a clear goal: to clean up market chaos rather than stifle innovation. Meanwhile, over 40 countries are requiring exchanges to collect and report detailed customer transaction data to combat tax evasion, effectively integrating cryptocurrencies into national public financial infrastructure.

This global regulatory clarity process, while increasing compliance costs in the short term, ultimately grants legitimacy to the industry. It drives out “flash-in-the-pan” bad operators and paves the way for projects committed to compliance and sustainable business models (like Ripple). For XRP, a market environment with clear rules and the removal of malicious actors is the best stage to leverage its technological advantages and legitimate image, gaining more trust from traditional institutions. The “tightening” of regulation is becoming a “passport” for high-quality crypto assets to mainstream adoption.