Silver is my old world bag. The XRP price is my new world bag.
Either way we go, I’ve got a bag and a samurai NFT.
And heading into 2026, XRP is primed to take on
Ethereum
0.09%
Ethereum
ETH
Price
$2,983.96
0.09% /24h
Volume in 24h
$9.58B
Price 7d
Learn more
. Yes, we went there.
Franklin Templeton just threw serious institutional weight behind XRP, publicly endorsing the asset as a core solution for real-time, low-cost cross-border payments on the XRP Ledger.
"XRPL is a payments-first blockchain enabling real-time, low-cost settlement and cross-border transaction efficiency. Within a diversified digital portfolio, we view XRPL’s native token, XRP, as a foundational building block given its market cap significance." – Roger Bayston,… pic.twitter.com/zsRApl8Cpy
— Franklin Templeton Digital Assets (@FTDA_US) December 30, 2025
The firm’s Head of Digital Assets framed XRP as a legitimate portfolio component, citing its liquidity, scale, and role in global payments infrastructure. Alongside that endorsement came promotion of Franklin Templeton’s spot XRPZ ETF, launched on November 24, 2025, on NYSE Arca, giving U.S. investors direct exposure to XRP’s price for the first time.
On paper, this should be gasoline on the fire for XRP heading into 2026.
DISCOVER: 20+ Next Crypto to Explode in 2025
2025 was supposed to be XRP’s redemption arc:
Yet XRP topped out near $3.66 and then collapsed more than 50% to an October low of $1.58.
One of the year’s most hyped catalysts arrived in March, when XRP was floated as a candidate for the US “Digital Asset Reserve.” The market ripped over 30% in response.
Did it ever happen?
No. And that’s why all of these assets deflated when it became clear the reserve would consist solely of seized assets, with no active buying and
Bitcoin
0.99%
Bitcoin
BTC
Price
$87,905.90
0.99% /24h
Volume in 24h
$22.65B
Price 7d
Learn more
favored separately.
DISCOVER: Next 1000X Crypto: 10+ Crypto Tokens That Can Hit 1000x in 2025
On-chain activity has quietly deteriorated. According to DeFiLlama, XRPL metrics, daily active addresses have remained stuck below 45,000 for months, with just 38,500 recorded on December 18.
That’s a staggering 94% drop from the March peak above 600,000 addresses.
ETF flows have been the lone bright spot.CoinGecko and issuer disclosures show XRP spot ETFs have logged 24 consecutive days of inflows, totaling $1.06Bn, with assets under management now exceeding $1.14Bn.
From a market structure standpoint, XRP has already lost two critical levels: the $2 psychological floor and the 50-week EMA near $1.87. That zone historically marks cycle inflection points. Below it, downside accelerates.
Key downside levels now sit at $1.61, followed by the 200-day EMA near $1.38. Veteran trader Peter Brandt has warned a potential double-top formation could drag XRP below $1 if selling pressure builds into 2026.
Franklin Templeton’s endorsement matters. Institutional validation matters. But price only responds to sustained demand, not institutional hype.While XRP has the tools to take on Ethereum in 2026 – and capital slowly rotating in – the price chart still looks fragile.
EXPLORE: Singapore Denies Do Kwon’s $14M Refund Demand For ‘Stolen’ Penthouse
Follow 99Bitcoins on X For the Latest Market Updates and Subscribe on YouTube For Daily Expert Market Analysis
The post Franklin Templeton Exec Says XRP Price Is Critical To Cross-Border Payments: $3 Inbound? appeared first on 99Bitcoins.
