Why Wall Street Is Paying Attention to XRP? A Brief On Market Sentiments

• XRP jumped about 17% in a week as trading activity in XRP-linked ETFs hit record levels.
• Investors are increasingly choosing regulated XRP ETFs over direct token purchases.
• Unlike Bitcoin and Ether, XRP saw steady buying even during late-2025 market slowdowns.

XRP has become hard to ignore token of the week. The token is among the most talked-about names in crypto this week after a sharp 17% price jump and record activity in XRP-linked exchange-traded funds. 

Crypto commentator Chad Steingraber recently broke down how buying of roughly 20 million XRP per day by ETFs could add up to billions of tokens absorbed over time, especially if more large funds enter the space. 

He said that if XRP-linked ETFs are absorbing around 20 million XRP per day, that would translate to roughly 100 million XRP per trading week, 400 million per month, and close to 4.8 billion XRP over a full year. Meanwhile, CNBC has opened up about XRP’s growing appeal as investors search for the next standout asset.

A Different Pattern From Bitcoin and Ether

According to CNBC’s MacKenzie Sigalos, unlike Bitcoin and Ether ETFs, which often see inflows rise and fall with price moves, XRP ETFs attracted buying even during quieter market periods late last year.

That behavior pointed to a strategy focused on relative opportunity. With Bitcoin already well established, XRP offered a less crowded trade and the potential for larger percentage gains. That view has started to play out in early 2026, as XRP has climbed sharply and moved into the top tier of global cryptocurrencies by market value.

“People were buying the dip with XRP in Q4, thinking this is a less crowded trade than Bitcoin or Ether,” MacKenzie Sigalos said.

Related: Japan Quietly Turns XRP Into Financial Infrastructure

Use Case Gives XRP Staying Power

XRP originally built its reputation around fast, low-cost cross-border payments, a use case that still separates it from many other digital assets.

While Bitcoin is often treated as digital gold and Ethereum as the backbone of decentralized applications, XRP is positioned as a payments-focused network designed to move value quickly between countries and currencies.

According to MacKenzie, that practical angle has helped XRP stand out as interest spreads beyond the two largest cryptocurrencies.

Part of a Broader Shift Toward Faster Blockchains

XRP’s rise comes alongside growing interest in other fast and efficient blockchains, including Solana. As more financial products move on-chain, from stablecoins to tokenized money-market funds, speed and cost have become major factors.

Large financial institutions are responding. Banks and brokerages have expanded filings for crypto ETFs beyond Bitcoin, signaling demand for a wider range of digital assets.

For now, XRP’s combination of ETF demand, real-world payment utility, and institutional interest has pushed it back into the center of the crypto conversation.

Related: XRP Nears $2.50 as Charts Signal a Critical Make-or-Break Zone