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The cryptocurrency market ended 2025 with sharp losses, but early sentiment in 2026 reflects a more optimistic outlook, and key industry voices have started shaping the discussion around recovery, especially for XRP, which closed the year with a double-digit drop but enters 2026 with renewed interest and structural shifts that may influence price performance.

XRP Shows Recovery Potential Despite 2025 Losses

XRP ended 2025 with a decline of almost 12%, aligning with the broader market pullback seen in the final quarter. However, early 2026 sentiment has shifted, and analysts are now reassessing assumptions that previously shaped price expectations. XRP has gained attention from experts who view its current valuation as a strength.

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Santiago Roel Santos, CEO of Inversion, expressed confidence in XRP’s trajectory during a recent appearance on the Empire podcast. He said, “XRP has a credible path to retesting its all-time high,” arguing it holds more upside than its peers. He emphasized Ripple’s flexibility to use XRP in strategic initiatives including acquisitions and ecosystem expansion.

According to Santos, XRP’s lower valuation gives Ripple room to act, unlike Ethereum which he said faces valuation concerns. He questioned Ethereum’s product direction and implied its market capitalization lacks support from current developments. His view adds to a growing belief that XRP could stand out in 2026 even if the market remains uneven.

Brad Kimes, founder of Digital Perspectives, shared this perspective in a recent video highlighting Santos’ comments. He noted the evolving tone around XRP and how institutional interest could grow as clarity builds. Kimes pointed to XRP’s growing support base and increased media attention as contributing factors to this new narrative.

Market Cycle Thinking Faces New Criticism

Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan argued that the four-year crypto market cycle no longer explains current behavior. He stated that new structural drivers, including institutional demand and tokenization, are setting the pace. “Cycle thinking is losing relevance,” Hougan said during the video shared by Kimes.

Hougan expects price action in 2026 to become more stable and less volatile, departing from previous cycle-driven patterns. He cited the launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs and growing stablecoin adoption as major demand factors. These developments, he believes, will support longer-term growth across the crypto space.

While he acknowledged that sentiment remains partly driven by past cycle logic, Hougan pointed out that institutions are moving slowly. He explained that companies like Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch delayed onboarding ETF products due to internal approval processes. This delay, in his view, caused uneven market flows throughout 2025.

Hougan also mentioned that new inflows from institutional investors will likely arrive gradually through 2026. He believes this shift will help stabilize the market and create more consistent price behavior. According to Hougan, this could benefit assets like XRP that are poised for practical deployment and ecosystem growth.

2026 Outlook Remains Focused on Structural Shifts

Total crypto market capitalization ended 2025 at around $2.93 trillion, down from its peak of $4.27 trillion in October. This drop reflected an overall loss of approximately $250 billion compared to the prior year. The year-over-year change represented a decline of 7.85%.

Despite that, early 2026 data signals a possible rebound, as both analysts and institutions reassess market structure and investment strategy. Santos and Hougan agree that the next growth phase depends on regulation, adoption, and practical use. These trends may define price performance more than speculation.

In the case of XRP, its lower starting price and Ripple’s strategic posture have drawn attention from analysts who favor utility-focused assets. The path forward may depend on how Ripple leverages XRP in global financial systems and partnerships.

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