XRP CNBC protection from January 2026 put the token on the heart of mainstream monetary media, and the story has solely picked up extra weight since. As of February 17, 2026, XRP is trading at around $1.48, holding the #4 spot by market cap with a market capitalization of roughly $90.52 billion and a 24-hour buying and selling quantity of $2.92 billion. It is up about 1.7% on the day — a modest transfer, however the broader XRP value surge in 2026 that CNBC first spotlighted again in January continues to be very a lot the backdrop. Back then, Power Lunch host Brian Sullivan acknowledged:
“The hottest crypto trade of the year is not Bitcoin, it is not Ether, it is XRP.”— Brian Sullivan, CNBC Power Lunch
At the time, XRP had gained 24% because the begin of the 12 months, far outpacing Bitcoin’s 5.5% and Ethereum’s 9.7%. That XRP CNBC breakout in 2026 additionally briefly pushed it previous BNB into third place by market cap earlier than the broader market cooled considerably into February.
Also Read: XRP Panic Selling Surges: Should You Follow Despite CEO Assurance?
ETF Inflows Drive XRP’s Early 2026 Momentum
Institutions Were Buying Before the Hype
The XRP CNBC protection didn’t seem out of skinny air, and the numbers behind it are additionally value carefully. Spot XRP ETFs launched in late 2025 had already pulled in $1.37 billion in cumulative inflows by January 2026 — the second-fastest development price for any crypto ETF product after Bitcoin — and had not recorded a single day of web outflows throughout that run. CNBC reporter Mackenzie Sigalos defined what had really been occurring within the weeks earlier than the rally grew to become a headline:
“During the doldrums of Q4, you actually saw a lot of people piling into those XRP ETFs, which is the exact opposite of what happens with the spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs, where people really move in tandem with the price of the coin.”— Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC
So buyers have been, proper now trying again at it, shopping for the dip somewhat than chasing momentum — a conduct that paid off when XRP ETF inflows stored accelerating into the brand new 12 months. That sort of contrarian positioning can be a giant a part of why XRP continues to be being handled as a prime crypto performer even on the extra subdued costs seen in February.
Analysts Divided on What Comes Next
Analyst Victor Olanrewaju from CCN had famous that the technical image supported additional upside:
“If momentum holds and buyers remain active, XRP could break $2.49 and extend toward $2.94.”— Victor Olanrewaju, CCN Analyst
That goal now seems extra distant, given the place costs are on the time of writing. Standard Chartered also revised its 2026 price target for XRP down from $8 to $2.80, citing broader market cooling — a reminder that XRP value surge in 2026 projections range broadly and carry actual uncertainty. Analyst Chad Steingraber had earlier projected that if XRP ETF inflows continued absorbing round 20 million tokens day by day, ETFs might lock up as a lot as 4.8 billion XRP throughout the 12 months, a provide dynamic that partly formed the XRP CNBC prime crypto performer narrative from the beginning.
Also Read: XRP Hits $1.6 After $1.2 Billion Daily Volume In South Korea
Other developments are additionally reinforcing institutional confidence. SBI Holdings lately clarified it holds a 9% fairness stake in Ripple Labs, reaffirming long-term backing. Ripple additionally introduced a growth roadmap for the XRP Ledger centered on institutional DeFi options, together with on-chain lending and wealth administration instruments. XRP CNBC in the present day protection continues to tie these fundamentals collectively as a part of an extended story — one which, at $1.48 and a $90 billion market cap, continues to be very a lot unfolding.