Ripple’s payment token, XRP, has just been labelled by CNBC as the “new cryptocurrency darling” after gaining 25% in the first week of the new year.
“The hottest crypto trade of the year is not Bitcoin, it is not Ether, it is XRP,” said CNBC’s Power Lunch host Brian Sullivan on Tuesday.
XRP price surges in the new year
XRP (XRP) has gained 25% since Jan. 1, outperforming Bitcoin (BTC), which is up 6%, and Ether (ETH), which has risen 10% since New Year’s Day.
But there could be many more tailwinds driving the token’s price.
Exchange-traded fund momentum, social sentiment, on-chain fundamentals, and recent partnerships could explain why XRP is outperforming its peers at the moment.
Analysts caution that ETF inflows and social-media sentiment have historically proven volatile and do not guarantee sustained price appreciation. Previous XRP rallies driven by narrative momentum have often cooled once inflows slowed or broader market conditions shifted.
Onchain metrics such as declining exchange balances can also reverse quickly during periods of heightened volatility, while regulatory and macroeconomic developments remain key external risks that could weigh on price action despite strong early-year performance.
WATCH: CNBC SAYS “THE HOTTEST CRYPTO TRADE OF THE YEAR IS NOT BITCOIN, IT IS NOT ETHER, IT IS $XRP.” pic.twitter.com/moYcx3OtG0
— The Wolf Of All Streets (@scottmelker) January 6, 2026
XRP ETF momentum remains strong
CNBC host Mackenzie Sigalos said, “during the doldrums of Q4, a lot of people were piling into XRP ETFs, which is the exact opposite of what happens with spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs, where people move in tandem with the price of the coin.”
It is a way to have a “higher percentage jump” with investors buying the XRP dip in Q4, thinking “this is a less crowded trade” than BTC or ETH, “and that proved to be true in the first six trading days of January.”
Related: The XRP Army got everything except $5 price: Will 2026 deliver?
The four spot XRP ETFs have seen almost $100 million in inflows since the beginning of the year, with the highest inflow for more than five…
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