CNBC publicly named XRP as the “Hottest Cryptocurrency of the Year” on the popular financial program “Power Lunch,” which quickly drew market attention. The show’s host Brian Sullivan straightforwardly stated that the most outstanding mainstream crypto asset this year is not Bitcoin or Ethereum, but XRP, with its significant gains and market cap ranking showing clear advantages.
Sullivan pointed out that XRP has gained over 20% since the beginning of the year, significantly outperforming Bitcoin and Ethereum. Currently, XRP’s market cap has risen to the third largest cryptocurrency in the world, behind only Bitcoin and Ethereum. This ranking change has become an important basis for CNBC’s “Hottest of the Year” evaluation.
In terms of price performance, XRP opened at $1.84 when entering 2026, then quickly strengthened, reaching a high of $2.41, with a staged increase of 30.97%. Although recent market technical corrections caused XRP to fall back to around $2.25, the total increase for the year remains above 22%, demonstrating relatively strong capital support.
By comparison, Bitcoin’s price at the start of the year was about $87,508, reaching a high of $94,762, with an increase of approximately 8.28%; Ethereum rose from $2,967 to $3,303, with an increase of about 11.32%. Among mainstream assets, XRP’s performance is clearly leading, further reinforcing its position as a “front-runner” in this stage.
CNBC reporter MacKenzie Sigalos analyzed the logic behind XRP’s rise, noting that this is not short-term speculation but the result of multiple factors working together. She mentioned that, against the backdrop of a generally weak crypto market in Q4 2025, some funds have begun to pre-position in XRP. Notably, XRP ETFs continued to attract funds during the market downturn, with a net inflow of $1 billion in the first month, and no net outflows, forming a stark contrast to the volatility of Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs.
Additionally, Sigalos believes that XRP is more “trading-friendly,” more resilient, and easier to benefit from capital rotation compared to BTC and ETH. As market focus shifts from leading assets to projects with clear application scenarios, XRP and Solana are gradually being viewed as “the next hot choices.”
She emphasized that XRP’s long-term positioning in cross-border payments, its transaction speed advantage, and low-cost features remain key to attracting real-world financial institutions. This also means that current capital flows are tilting toward blockchain assets with practical financial application potential, and XRP’s strong performance at the start of the year is a direct reflection of this trend.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
Warren Buffett bought $17B in US T-bills: A bad omen for Bitcoin price?
Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, said in a CNBC interview this week that his firm purchased approximately $17 billion in US Treasury bills at the latest auction. Is a stock market crash coming and what does it mean for Bitcoin (BTC)?
Key takeaways:
Berk
Cointelegraph5m ago
Bitcoin Falls to $66K as Trump Signals Further Escalation in Iran
Bitcoin prices fell below $67,000 on Thursday morning, dropping to $66,770 following Donald Trump’s latest update on the war with Iran.
“We are on track to complete all of America’s military objectives shortly, very shortly,” the President said at the White House on Wednesday. “We’re going to hit t
CryptoPotato27m ago
Genius Group taps Bitcoin reserve to service $8.5M debt
Genius Group, an AI-powered Bitcoin treasury and education company, disclosed in its first-quarter 2026 results that it has sold the remainder of its Bitcoin holdings to pay down debt. The move marks a notable shift for a company that had branded itself with a “Bitcoin first” strategy just over a
CryptoBreaking56m ago
Bitcoin traders keep chasing Trump’s Iran noise. The real signals are elsewhere.
The past four weeks have been brutal for bitcoin BTC$66,462.68 traders as prices keep chasing comments by President Donald Trump, who can't make up his mind about Iran.
One day, he talks peace and BTC and risk assets go up while oil drops, the next day he talks hawkish again, sending BTC down and o
CoinDesk1h ago
Stop fixating on Trump’s remarks? The real Bitcoin price movement signals are in the tanker rates and insurance premiums
Bitcoin is trading sideways near $66,000, influenced by remarks by Trump on the situation in Iran. The shipping and insurance costs in the Strait of Hormuz reflect elevated risk. It is expected that an expanding supply shortfall will continue to weigh on Bitcoin and other risk assets, and in the short term the market may still remain choppy.
GateNews1h ago
