XRP Flips BNB to Claim Third Place as Crypto Market Rebounds

XRP is gaining attention after moving ahead of BNB to become the third-largest crypto asset by market value. New ETF inflows, stronger price signals, and growing investor confidence are helping to strengthen XRP’s position in the global crypto market.

This milestone reflects more than a price increase. It signals a clear change in how investors, especially institutions, view the digital asset. 

XRP ETF Inflows Signal Rising Institutional Interest

For years, BNB held a firm grip on the third position in the crypto rankings. XRP’s move ahead of it marks a turning point. According to CoinMarketCap data, XRP now ranks just behind Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) by market value.

This shift shows that investor attention is moving back to XRP, driven by renewed trust in its long-term role in the crypto market. Much of this confidence has returned after a long period of uncertainty caused by regulatory challenges. 

One of the clearest signs of growing interest is coming from the ETF market. On January 2, XRP-linked ETFs recorded inflows of about $13.6 million, showing growing demand from investors seeking regulated exposure. The updated XRP ETF filing by Roundhill has further strengthened institutional interest. 

The wider ETF market also saw capital flowing in after recording heavy withdrawals. On the same day XRP ETFs recorded inflows, Bitcoin ETFs attracted $471 million, while Ethereum ETFs saw $174 million. BlackRock’s IBIT led Bitcoin inflows, and Grayscale’s ETHE topped Ethereum products. 

At the same time, not every issuer remains fully committed to XRP. ProShares canceled its leveraged XRP ETF plan, and CoinShares paused its XRP ETF effort, showing that caution still remains despite growing interest.

XRP Breaks Long Downtrend, Signals Price Recovery

Market charts also tell a story of recovery. Analysts note that XRP has broken free from a long-lasting downward pattern that limited price growth for roughly eight months. 

The breakout happened near the $2.01 level on the weekly chart, which was a key resistance area. This trend started after XRP hit a high close to $3.40 in July 2025.

After that peak, the price slowly moved lower until it finally broke above the channel. Analysts now believe XRP could rise toward $2.50, supported by higher trading volume and stronger price movement.

At the time of writing, XRP is trading around $2 despite a small daily drop, showing stability after the breakout.

Institutions Expand Beyond Bitcoin as Interest in XRP Grows

XRP’s renewed strength is part of a bigger trend in the crypto market. Institutional investors are no longer focusing only on Bitcoin, as more money is moving into other assets like XRP, Solana (SOL), and Chainlink (LINK).

This shows that institutions are spreading their investments instead of relying on just one crypto. Standard Chartered supports this view, predicting a possible 330% rise for XRP over time. This forecast highlights growing confidence in XRP’s long-term potential.