Not Bitcoin, not Ether: Is XRP the breakout trade of 2026?

As much of the crypto market cools, one token is pulling ahead. XRP has become the standout trade of the 2026 crypto rally, leapfrogging Binance’s BNB by market value after a sharp weekly surge, according to CNBC analyst MacKenzie Sigalos.

Summary

• “The breakout trade of the 2026 crypto rally isn’t Bitcoin or Ether — it is XRP,” Sigalos said.
• The Ripple-linked token is up more than 20% over the past week and has been a steady outperformer for months, she explained.
• The broader crypto complex, however, continues to pull back.

On Tuesday, Jan. 6, Sigalos pointed out:

XRP’s rally has been fueled by a combination of fundamentals and flows. The token’s core use case centers on payments—specifically cross-border settlement—where Ripple positions XRP as a bridge asset that can move value between currencies in seconds rather than days.

That pitch, aimed squarely at banks and payment providers, stands in contrast to Bitcoin’s “digital gold” narrative and to stablecoins, which simply tokenize fiat currency.

Investors have also been drawn to XRP as a less crowded trade relative to Bitcoin and Ether, particularly after Ripple cleared its long-running regulatory overhang by resolving its SEC case. Importantly, XRP-focused investment products continued to attract inflows through the fourth quarter, even as Bitcoin ETF flows softened alongside prices.

With regulatory uncertainty easing and capital rotating away from more congested trades, Sigalos said XRP has quietly gained momentum from a lower base—setting it apart as money searches for alternatives within the crypto market.