XRP maintained its strong start to the year on Jan. 5, rising over 8% to reach $2.28, its highest valuation since Nov. 17. Since the start of the year—when it traded below $1.85— XRP has climbed by over 20% to establish itself as one of the market’s top performers in 2026. This surge moved in tandem with the broader crypto economy; notably, bitcoin ( BTC) broke past the $94,000 mark for the first time in nearly a month.
The broader crypto rally has intensified as global markets react to the United States’ high-stakes military intervention that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The operation involved more than 150 U.S. aircraft, which systematically disabled Venezuelan air defenses before elite Delta Force units landed at the Fuerte Tiuna military compound in Caracas.
Read more: Venezuela Crisis Watch: Bitcoin Exchange Netflows Signal Caution, Not Crypto Fear
Maduro’s dramatic capture was the culmination of a year-long escalation by the Trump administration, which had already conducted over 35 naval strikes against alleged “drug boats” in the Caribbean since late 2025. Following the dramatic operation, Venezuela’s key allies—China and Russia—condemned the U.S. actions and demanded Maduro’s immediate release. The incident has sparked international protests and introduced a wave of global “risk-off” sentiment in traditional markets, which has historically driven liquidity toward alternatives like bitcoin and XRP.
Meanwhile, XRP’s early January momentum has allowed it to displace BNB as the fourth-largest digital asset by market capitalization. This shift reflects a significant return of institutional interest and retail confidence in the Ripple ecosystem. From a technical perspective, the rally has seen XRP successfully clear the 50-day EMA ($2.04), a move that signals robust short-term bullish strength. However, the 200-day EMA ($2.35) remains a major overhead hurdle, suggesting that the broader downtrend seen throughout late 2025 has not yet been fully invalidated.
On the other hand, the relative strength index ( RSI) is currently hovering near 70. Market experts note that this indicates the asset is approaching overbought territory. While momentum is undeniably strong, a brief period of consolidation or a minor “retest” of the $2.10 support level may be necessary to build the foundation for further gains.
XRP is currently in a short-term bullish but medium-term neutral phase. The recovery from $1.85 to $2.22 is a significant achievement; however, for this to evolve into a sustained bull market, XRP must convert the $2.25 resistance zone into confirmed support. Should it fail to hold the $2.14 level in the coming days, a retest of the psychological $2.00 floor is likely.
- Why did XRP surge in early 2026? XRP rose over 20% as global crypto markets rallied alongside bitcoin’s breakout past $94,000.
- How did geopolitics impact XRP’s rise? The U.S. military capture of Venezuela’s Maduro triggered global risk‑off sentiment, boosting crypto demand.
- What is XRP’s current market position? XRP displaced BNB to become the world’s fourth‑largest digital asset by market capitalization.
- What are the technical risks ahead? XRP cleared the 50‑day EMA but faces resistance at $2.35, with RSI near overbought levels.
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