XRP Surges 11% to Reclaim $2 Milestone: What’s Driving the Rally?

XRP just smashed through the $2 barrier—its first time back at that level in years. An 11% single-day surge sent traders scrambling and lit up crypto forums. Forget subtle gains—this was a straight shot upward.

Behind the Breakout

So what flipped the switch? Market chatter points to a perfect storm: simmering regulatory clarity hopes meeting a wave of fresh capital rotating into large-cap altcoins. The rally wasn't isolated—broader momentum in payment-focused tokens provided a tailwind. Trading volumes spiked, suggesting institutional desks weren't just watching.

Technical Tells and Next Levels

Charts show clean breaks past several resistance zones that had capped prices for months. The move puts XRP in a new weekly range, with bulls now eyeing the next historical benchmarks. Watch for consolidation above $2—that's the key to sustaining the leg up. Any pullback will test whether recent buyers are here for the tech or just the quick flip—because in crypto, conviction often lasts exactly as long as the last green candle.

What Comes After $2?

The path forward hinges on two factors: whether this momentum attracts real-world utility adoption or just more speculative leverage. Every rally gets called 'the new paradigm' until it isn't—remember, Wall Street still treats most crypto moves like a casino side-show, just with better graphics. If usage metrics follow the price, this could stick. If not, prepare for the usual cycle of euphoria followed by a search for who's holding the bag.

After Hitting $2, Where Is XRP Heading Next?

XRP had quite a great year in 2025, albeit it faced substantial struggles towards the end of the year. The asset breached the $3 mark in January 2025 for the first time in seven year. XRP went on to hit a new all-time high of $3.65 in July of last year. The incredible gains made in 2025 were likely due to the settlement of the SEC vs. Ripple lawsuit. XRP also saw the launch of several spot ETFs in late 2025.

There is a high chance that XRP will experience similar gains in 2026 as well. We may see increased ETF inflows, a substantial driver for the price of an asset. Bitcoin (BTC) and ethereum (ETH) hit new peaks in 2025 thanks to high ETF inflows.

According to CoinCodex analysts, XRP will continue surging over the coming weeks. The platform anticipates the asset to hit $2.42 on Jan. 24 before facing a slight correction. CoinCodex predicts XRP will hit the $2.50 mark sometime in March of this year. However, CoinCodex does not expect XRP to reclaim the $3 mark anytime soon.

The crypto market is still quite fragile and far from fully recovered. XRP’s current rally is likely due to Bitcoin (BTC) hitting the $93,000 mark after a bullish weekend. However, the rally may not sustain over the next few days. Macroeconomic worries continue to plague investors. The crypto market could face another correction very soon.