XRP has been through a tough stretch in 2026 so far, dropping by nearly 25% since the start of the year.
The XRP price dropped as low as $1.16 in early February, but has since recovered, briefly touching $1.60 in mid-March before returning to the $1.40 level.
Crypto’s Surprising Recovery has Defied Iran War Uncertainty, but XRP Has Failed to Capitalize
When trying to determine where XRP will head next, it’s impossible to ignore the elephant in the room. The Iran war has had a profound effect on practically all investable asset classes.
While the S&P 500 is down 4.9% in the last month, top crypto assets have surprisingly seen solid gains. Bitcoin is up 8.3%, while Ethereum has gained 14.4% in the last 30 days.
The real crypto standout has been Hyperliquid (+48%), which has emerged as an important platform for price discovery on weekends, when traditional markets are closed.
The platform’s 24/7 markets have proven to be very useful for traders speculating on oil prices, which have become highly volatile due to the war.
Meanwhile, XRP has remained tentative as the coin has only seen a modest 1.8% price increase in the same time period.
Since the conflict began on February 28, XRP has traded in a range between $1.32 and $1.60, spending most of its time between $1.35 and $1.45. The price action has been quite choppy, with no clear trend formation.
Cryptocurrencies are viewed as a risk-on asset class, so conventional wisdom would expect a crypto downturn in response to the war. Even though the positive performance is unexpected, we have to keep in mind that the crypto market is still responding to headlines related to the war.
For example, when US President Donald Trump made comments on Monday suggesting a de-escalation of the conflict, the price of Bitcoin shot up from $68,500 to $71,500 in a few hours.
In the short term, we can expect the largest crypto assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP to be sensitive to headlines related to the Iran war.
Given the unpredictable nature of the conflict, the crypto market will likely be exceptionally difficult to navigate. This is especially true for XRP, which is not trending in either direction.
XRP Price Prediction: A Return Above $2 Later in the Year
To get an alternative perspective, let’s take a look at the algorithmic XRP price prediction by CoinCodex, which is forecasting positive price action for XRP in the next few months.
The platform expects XRP to peak at $1.68 in June, a 19% increase from its current price.
Even more intense bullish action in the XRP market is forecast for later down the line, as the algorithmic prediction on CoinCodex expects XRP to hit a local peak of $2.21 in October.
This would be a 56% increase from the current XRP price.
While this forecast is certainly positive, it does not expect XRP to come close to its $3.92 all-time high in the next year.
Latest XRP and Ripple news
Now, let’s turn to recent fundamental developments connected to XRP and Ripple to see potential bullish catalysts for XRP if positive sentiment returns to the crypto market.
Ripple Tests Stablecoin Trade Finance in Singapore Sandbox
Ripple is piloting a new approach to cross-border trade finance using its RLUSD stablecoin, aiming to replace slow, manual processes that have long defined the industry.
In collaboration with supply chain tech firm Unloq, the company is participating in Singapore’s central bank-backed BLOOM initiative.
The pilot uses Unloq’s platform to automate payments, releasing funds instantly when predefined conditions (such as shipment verification) are met, with RLUSD on the XRP Ledger handling settlement.
This initiative highlights Ripple’s growing focus on institutional-grade infrastructure rather than retail use cases. By securing a place in a Monetary Authority of Singapore sandbox, Ripple gains regulatory validation for its stablecoin stack.
Evernorth Bets on XRP Treasury Model Despite Market Slowdown
Evernorth Holdings is moving forward with plans to go public via a SPAC merger, even as crypto treasury companies face declining valuations and reduced investor interest.
CEO Asheesh Birla argues that current regulatory clarity and institutional readiness make this the ideal time to launch. The company holds a substantial XRP reserve, though it is currently unrealized due to recent price declines.
Rather than simply offering exposure to XRP, Evernorth positions itself as a full-service solution handling custody, compliance, and security for institutional investors. The firm also plans to generate yield from its holdings to expand its reserves.
Despite broader treasury stagnation, strong inflows into XRP ETFs signal continued demand, with Birla emphasizing that scale and active ecosystem participation will determine which treasury firms survive.
Ripple Expands Regulatory Footprint with Australian License
Ripple is strengthening its presence in the Asia-Pacific region by seeking an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL) through the acquisition of a local entity.
The license would allow Ripple to offer fully regulated, end-to-end cross-border payment services in Australia, covering everything from onboarding and compliance to liquidity management and final settlement.
Ripple Deepens Brazil Expansion
Ripple is significantly expanding its operations in Brazil, aiming to provide a comprehensive suite of services for financial institutions, including payments, custody, treasury management, and brokerage.
The company is also planning to apply for a Virtual Asset Service Provider license, reinforcing its compliance-first approach in one of Latin America’s most advanced financial markets.
* The content presented above, whether from a third party or not, is considered as general advice only. This article should not be construed as containing investment advice, investment recommendations, an offer of or solicitation for any transactions in financial instruments.
