Calling XRP a done deal is not just community hype anymore — and at the time of writing, the data is starting to back that up. In 2025 the asset reached a value of $3. pulled back to around $1.43People are asking themselves the same question: what is the real XRP prediction for 2026? Why has XRP dropped so drastically, when will it hit $3 once again and how does the current XRP forecast look in the future? The XRP bullish argument is reconstructed around real flow, regulatory clarity and a payments network that institutions are finding harder to ignore.
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Why XRP Bullish Momentum, Price Prediction & $3 Outlook Matter Now

The $8 call and why analysts see this as a done deal for XRP
Geoffrey Kendrick at Standard Chartered Bank has put a $8 price target on XRP for 2026 — a 315% move from current levels — citing regulatory clarity and the recent approval of spot XRP ETFs as the core drivers. This number, whether you like it or not tells us something about the current sentiment of institutional desks towards this asset.
The data shows that the flow is also in the same direction. According to SoSoValue, five spot XRP ETFs in the United States are now holding $1.06 billion in net assets — 1.17% of XRP’s total market cap. Last week, these same ETFs experienced net inflows at a period when Bitcoin and Ethereum were experiencing outflows. Analysts say that this kind of divergence, or at least the direction, makes XRP look as if it’s a lock.
Ripple Chief Executive Brad Garlinghouse Posting on X for January 21st, 2026
“Let’s not let perfect be the enemy of good. No piece of legislation has ever been perfect by everyone’s standards. What we need is a clear framework, allowing innovation to flourish — exactly what Market Structure will deliver.”

Garlinghouse has also said the XRP blockchain will capture 14% of SWIFT’s transaction volume within five years — which, if it happens even partially, changes the XRP price prediction picture considerably.
What caused XRP to drop and is the move towards $3 still on the table?
What caused XRP to drop from $3.65 so drastically? As the primary reasons, analysts point to a broad sentiment of risk-off, quick profit-taking, as well as an Altcoin Season Index that is deep into Bitcoin Season territory. Most analysts still consider the XRP bullish structure intact — they are calling it consolidation, not a breakdown. Nobody has retracted the notion that this deal is done for XRP. They’ve simply moved the deadline.
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Analyst on whether XRP is going to hit $3 Alex Carchidi stated:
“I think it’s more likely to happen than not, barring any major market hiccup.”
The current range of XRP prices for 2026 lies between $1.81 to $5, with an average price of $2.90. InvestingHaven considers $5 to be realistic should XRP clear $3.60–$3.80 with volume. The regulatory tailwinds, adoption of exchange-traded funds, and push for Ripple RLUSD are being closely monitored. These factors combined are keeping the ‘done deal’ narrative about XRP going into the end of the year.
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Source: watcher.guru

