CNBC Names XRP 2026’s Breakout Crypto Trade After 30% Surge

In a striking declaration on CNBC’s Power Lunch segment, anchor Brian Sullivan named XRP the “hottest crypto trade of the year,” asserting it is outperforming market leaders Bitcoin and Ether. This pronouncement follows a remarkable seven-day rally that saw the cryptocurrency climb over 30% from its yearly opening, reaching a two-month high of $2.41 on Tuesday morning. Sullivan emphasized there is “big money behind this trade,” positioning XRP as the “new cryptocurrency darling” of 2026.

The performance has propelled XRP past BNB to reclaim its position as the third-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, a ranking it lost during December’s market turbulence. In the weekly timeframe, XRP’s rally has notably outpaced those of Bitcoin and Ethereum, which posted gains of 4.3% and 6.2%, respectively. CNBC’s MacKenzie Sigalos reinforced this view, describing XRP as “the quiet outperformer for months now,” questioning whether its rise is a fleeting trend or rooted in a substantive use case like cross-border payments.

MacKenzie Sigalos outlined three fundamental reasons for XRP’s powerful start to the year. First and foremost, she cited the resolution of a major regulatory obstacle: “the regulatory overhang has finally cleared as Ripple has fully wrapped up its SEC fight as of August 2nd.” The conclusion of this prolonged legal battle in August 2025 removed a significant cloud of uncertainty that had long weighed on the asset.

Second, Sigalos noted that investors view XRP as “a less crowded trade than Bitcoin or Ether,” a thesis that “proved out to be true” in the first trading days of January. This perception has allowed for more pronounced price movements as capital seeks alternative opportunities beyond the two largest cryptocurrencies.

The third and perhaps most compelling driver is the sustained investor demand, even during market weakness. “The flows have held up even during the Q4 dip,” Sigalos explained. She highlighted a critical divergence: while flows into the largest Bitcoin and Ether ETFs typically move “in tandem with the price of the coin,” investors continued piling into XRP-based funds during the fourth-quarter downturn. This consistent accumulation, she argued, positioned XRP for a “higher percentage jump” when market sentiment turned.

The data behind the XRP ETF phenomenon underscores its unique investor appeal. Since their debut in November 2025, XRP-focused investment products have recorded cumulative net inflows of $1.25 billion, according to data from SoSoValue. Remarkably, this ETF category has not seen a single day of negative net flows in nearly two months, demonstrating unwavering demand.

This trend accelerated at the start of 2026, with XRP funds attracting $78.81 million in inflows over the first three trading days of the year. This consistent inflow, especially during the “doldrums of Q4” when spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs experienced outflows, signals a distinct and resilient investor base. As of the latest data, XRP is trading at $2.19, maintaining a 20% weekly gain and solidifying its status as CNBC’s breakout trade of the year, driven by cleared regulation, strategic positioning, and unwavering fund flows.