After more than 5 years trapped in the shadows of lawsuits, XRP (Ripple) is at a historical turning point. Aggressive legal actions from Ripple against the rigid regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are paving the way for a breakthrough for this asset in 2026.
1. Ripple criticizes SEC: The battle for freedom for cryptocurrency
In early 2026, Ripple's legal team made strong statements against the SEC's "enforcement-based management" approach.
Regulatory loophole: Ripple accuses the SEC of trying to apply standards from 1933 to a technology of the future, creating an unfair barrier to innovation in the U.S.
The boost from the "Clarity Act": A new proposed law under discussion indicates that assets that are key components of ETF funds (like XRP) could be completely removed from the definition of "securities." If passed, this would be the end of all legal disputes Ripple is facing.
2. Technical analysis: XRP breaks through the psychological threshold of 2.00 USD.
The market notes that XRP has had an impressive start to 2026:
Growth momentum: Just in the first week of January 2026, the price of XRP rose over 18%, officially surpassing the important resistance level of 2.14 USD.
Institutional cash flow: XRP ETFs in the U.S. have recorded a streak of 29 consecutive days with positive cash flow (inflow), accumulating over 1.37 billion USD. The absorption of supply by institutions is pushing XRP into a state of "supply shock," supporting sustainable price increases.
Next target: If it maintains above 2.30 USD, analysts forecast a "short squeeze" could quickly drive the price towards the range of 2.60 USD - 3.20 USD.
3. Price forecast for XRP in 2026: The numbers are telling.
Major financial institutions have begun to issue optimistic forecasts for XRP as the legal "cage" is gradually removed:
Standard Chartered: This bank forecasts that XRP could reach 8 USD in 2026 thanks to regulatory clarity and widespread acceptance of ETFs.
Base case scenario: Most forecasting models set an average target for XRP at 3.90 USD - 5.12 USD if ETF cash flow remains stable.
Long-term vision: CEO Brad Garlinghouse estimates that XRP could account for up to 14% of global cross-border transaction volume, partially replacing the traditional SWIFT system within the next 5 years.
4. Why is 2026 the golden time for Ripple?
Unlike previous cycles, Ripple's position has now changed:
Bank acceptance: Ripple is expanding significantly in the Japanese and Southeast Asian markets, where major banks are beginning to use XRP as a bridge asset.
Intrinsic stability: The SEC's withdrawal of complaints against Ripple's leadership and exchanges relisting XRP has completely restored confidence from both retail and institutional investors.
Conclusion: The battle with the SEC is no longer a "death sentence" but has become a launchpad for XRP to prove its real value. With the combination of a new legal framework and a massive influx of ETF capital, 2026 promises to be the year XRP officially breaks free from all barriers to establish new heights.
