XRP price outlook as Ripple CEO predicts strong year ahead

Billions of XRP remain idle, showing untapped payment potential.
CEO Garlinghouse forecasts strong long-term growth for patient investors.
The key XRP price levels to watch are the support around $1.31–$1.33 and the resistance around $1.40–$1.45.

XRP has had a challenging start to 2026, with the price hovering around $1.34 after a slight pullback in the past week.

But despite this short-term weakness, sentiment around the cryptocurrency is showing signs of resilience.

Dormant liquidity signals opportunity

One of the most interesting trends in XRP is the large amount of dormant liquidity on the XRP Ledger.

According to Anodos Finance Co-founder and CEO Panos Mekras, billions of XRP are currently inactive, sitting idle in wallets rather than being used for transactions or payments.

This idle liquidity represents a significant untapped resource. If activated, it could fuel broader adoption of XRP for everyday payments and merchant transactions.

Notably, the introduction of stablecoin initiatives on the ledger is helping bridge this gap.

By pairing XRP with dollar-pegged assets, the ecosystem aims to make it easier for people to use crypto in daily life without worrying about volatility.

Developers are also working on tools like self-custodial cards and super apps that allow XRP to be spent directly, and this could accelerate the transition of XRP from a trading asset to a practical financial instrument.

Long-term confidence from Ripple leadership

Ripple’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, has shared a very optimistic long-term view.

Speaking at the XRP Australia 2026 conference, Garlinghouse emphasised that investors who are patient and focus on blockchain adoption trends could be very happy over the next five years.

The message is clear: XRP’s value isn’t just tied to short-term price swings.

Institutional adoption and incremental progress in financial infrastructure are expected to play a bigger role in determining its trajectory.

The broader trend in the crypto market also supports this outlook since, as more institutions explore blockchain technology and tokenisation, the potential for XRP to be integrated into financial systems continues to grow.

Current XRP market dynamics

Technically, XRP is in a phase of consolidation.

The price has recently fallen below short-term trendlines and key moving averages, indicating a cautious market mood.

Bearish momentum in the immediate term is evident, with resistance forming near $1.38 and stronger resistance around $1.40 to $1.45.

On the downside, support levels are clustered around $1.33 and $1.31, with a deeper buffer near $1.20 if selling pressure increases.

Also, unrealised losses for holders are notable, with a substantial portion of XRP bought above the current price.

This shows that many investors are underwater, which can create volatility if panic selling occurs.

At the same time, the ecosystem’s latent potential, such as dormant liquidity being activated for real-world payments, adds a positive long-term narrative.