Is XRP About to Overtake Ethereum? The 2026 Data Says Yes

Since January 2026, the crypto market has been going through a severe correction phase. The total value wiped from the market exceeds $653 billion. Yet not all digital assets are suffering equally. XRP, in particular, is showing remarkable resilience. Here are the details.

XRP Closing the Gap with Ethereum: The Numbers Speak for Themselves

According to current data (https://fr.tradingview.com/symbols/ETHUSD/), Ethereum has declined by 34.57% since January 1. Its market capitalization has fallen to $233 billion after losing $124 billion in just a few weeks. By contrast, XRP is down only 23.45%, with a current market capitalization of $85.8 billion.

This performance gap is clearly reflected in the XRP/ETH pair. At the beginning of January, it stood at 0.0006199 ETH. Today, it has climbed to 0.0007280 ETH - an increase of 17.4% in just a few weeks.

For comparison, Bitcoin has declined by 23.15% over the same period. Solana is down 33.56%, and BNB has dropped 29.52%. In this broader downturn, XRP stands out as one of the most resilient altcoins of the current cycle. This has led many analysts to reassess its position within the blockchain asset hierarchy.

Minotaurus ($MTAUR): A Dynamic Alternative to Watch

Minotaurus is a crypto gaming project currently in presale. Its token, $MTAUR (http://minotaurus.io/insight/596f8cbeff4da289b886), is deployed on the BNB blockchain. The total supply is set at 100 billion tokens, with an announced initial capitalization of $5.6 million.

The project includes several incentive mechanisms, including:

- A referral program offering up to a 10% USDT bonus to both participants
- An extended vesting mechanism (up to 14 months in total) allowing participants to receive up to 10% additional $MTAUR (http://minotaurus.io/insight/596f8cbeff4da289b886) tokens

The game concept is relatively straightforward: a blockchain-based labyrinth where players collect in-game assets, battle creatures, and customize their avatars.

XRP at 173% of Ethereum: A Scenario Drawing Closer

The question within the crypto community is straightforward: can XRP surpass Ethereum in terms of market capitalization? Current figures provide a clear mathematical answer.

To overtake ETH's $233 billion market capitalization, XRP would need to reach a price of $3.83. With a circulating supply of 61 billion tokens, the calculation is simple. This would represent a 173.5% increase from the current level of approximately $1.40.

That figure may appear ambitious. However, in January 2026, reaching this target would have required a 220% increase. In less than two months, the gap has narrowed by 46 percentage points.

Some analysts remain cautious. If the broader crypto market rebounds, Ethereum would likely appreciate as well. The 173% threshold is therefore not fixed. In a generalized bull market scenario, XRP would need to consistently outperform ETH to achieve this so-called "ETH flip."

In this context, short-term XRP price projections remain tilted to the upside according to several market observers. The asset's resilience under selling pressure strengthens the argument that it behaves differently from most altcoins.

Behind XRP's Performance: A Deeper Structural Shift

Behind XRP's recent performance lies a more structural development. The XRP Ledger is increasingly becoming a central infrastructure for real-world asset tokenization (RWA).

According to on-chain data (https://cryptoquant.com/asset/xrp/summary), the network has absorbed $1.3 billion in newly tokenized assets in just a few weeks since January 1, 2026. This figure alone exceeds the total recorded throughout the entire year of 2025.

In concrete terms, the total value of RWAs on the XRP Ledger now stands at $1.87 billion, excluding stablecoins. The network hosts 102 active RWA projects covering:

- Corporate bonds
- Private credit
- Institutional structured products

Stablecoins on the network have also expanded. Their capitalization now exceeds $426 million, reflecting a 6.45% increase over the past 30 days.

In global rankings, the XRP Ledger currently holds the 6th position among blockchain networks for tokenized assets. It ranks ahead of Solana and sits just $400 million below BNB Chain (approximately $2.3 billion). At the current pace, that threshold could be crossed in the coming weeks.

In any case, XRP is reinforcing its position as a key asset of the 2026 cycle. According to several market analysts, the question may no longer be whether XRP will surpass ETH - but when. To be continued.

Phoenix Media Limited
Victoria, Mahe
Republic of Seychelles

Press contact: PR Department (pr@minotaurus.io)

Web3 PR Agency that helps projects grow, launch, and get noticed. PR for Web3 startups, DAOs, and token launches.

This release was published on openPR.