21Shares predicts: XRP will hit $2.69 by the end of the year, and ETFs will suck up 1.4 billion

Wall Street asset manager 21Shares has released its XRP price prediction for 2026, targeting $2.69 by the end of the year. XRP spot ETF inflows have exceeded $14bn, indicating that Wall Street demand has far exceeded expectations. Technicals: The 200-day EMA is key, targeting $3.10 after a breakout, and a loss of $1.80 support could lead to a drop to $1.40.

21Shares predicts $2.69 based on three pillars

XRP could be poised for a groundbreaking year. Wall Street’s latest XRP price prediction hints at a potential significant movement in XRP price by the end of 2026. XRP has risen by 1.7% year-to-date and is currently trading at $1.87 per token. However, a new report from 21Shares notes that XRP could end the year with a price target of as high as $2.69, and if the rally accelerates, the token is poised for a new all-time high.

21Shares’ predictions are not groundless but are built on three pillars: increased regulatory clarity, growing institutional demand, and expanding technology adoption. First, Ripple’s lawsuit with the SEC has ended, and the removal of legal uncertainty has cleared the biggest barrier for institutional funds to enter the market. Secondly, the launch of the XRP spot ETF has created a compliant investment channel, enabling traditional institutions like pension funds and pensions to participate in XRP investments. Third, the expansion of the RLUSD stablecoin and Ripple’s cross-border payment network provides practical application scenarios for XRP.

ETF inflows have exceeded $1.4 billion, indicating that Wall Street’s demand for XRP has far exceeded expectations. This figure was achieved in just a few months, indicating a strong willingness of institutional investors to allocate XRP. In contrast, ETFs for many other crypto assets have seen far-less inflows than XRP after launch. This difference in demand reflects XRP’s unique positioning in the eyes of institutions: it is not just a speculative target but a payment infrastructure with practical application value.

The three premises of 21Shares’ prediction

The regulatory framework is clear: Ripple lawsuit ends, US Market Structure Act advances to provide a clear regulatory environment for XRP

Institutional adoption accelerates: ETF funds continue to flow in, and more financial institutions are incorporating XRP into their asset allocations

Application scenarios expanded: RLUSD stablecoin growth and cross-border payment network expansion drive real demand for XRP

While short-term volatility has limited recent gains, analysts believe that clearer regulations and rising institutional demand could finally unlock the kind of explosive growth XRP fans have been waiting for for a long time. If momentum continues to build, the $2.69 price target could be just the beginning, especially after increased regulatory clarity and Wall Street increased bets on XRP’s long-term role in cross-border payments.

The 200-day EMA is the key to a breakout at $3.10

! [XRP Daily Chart] (https://img-cdn.gateio.im/webp-social/moments-87a9b3933a-30e8ce7f5c-8b7abd-e2c905.webp)

(Source: Trading View)

The daily chart shows that XRP has struggled to break above the 200-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) on several occasions over the past few months. If the price bounces off the $1.80 support level again, then this is the key resistance level to watch. This line is close to 21Shares’ benchmark price target of $2.25.

The 200-day EMA is one of the most commonly used long-term trend indicators in technical analysis. When the price is above the 200-day EMA, it is often seen as a long-term uptrend and vice versa. The XRP price is currently below the 200-day EMA, indicating that the long-term trend remains bearish. To reverse this pattern, XRP would need to not only hold the $1.80 support but also break through the 200-day EMA resistance.

Meanwhile, if the XRP price breaks above this barrier, we expect its price to rise to $3.10, which represents a 66% upside. This target price is based on technical analysis of Fibonacci extensions and previous highs. $3.10 is near the early 2025 high area and is also a resistance level that has been tested multiple times. A break above the 200-day EMA will open the way to $3.10, with a breakout from the latter potentially triggering a larger rally.

Conversely, if it falls below $1.80, it could soon drop to $1.40. $1.80 is a key support that has been tested multiple times recently and is the lower edge of the consolidation range at the end of last year. A break below this level would disrupt the current bullish structure, triggering stop-loss orders and panic selling. $1.40 is a deeper technical support level, and if the price touches this level, it may attract dip-buying funds, but it also means that the time to the $2.69 target will be significantly extended.

From the perspective of the risk-reward ratio, the current position is attractive. With a stop loss of $1.80 and a target of $2.69, the risk-reward ratio is about 1:9. If we look further at $3.10, the risk-reward ratio will reach 1:13. This extremely asymmetrical yield structure is why many institutional investors are willing to allocate XRP at this time.

ETF consecutive net inflows broke Bitcoin records

ETF inflows have exceeded $1.4 billion, indicating that Wall Street’s demand for XRP has far exceeded expectations. Even more shocking is the persistence of capital inflows, with the XRP ETF setting a world record: net inflows for more than 50 consecutive days, surpassing stocks, commodities, bonds, and even Bitcoin ETFs. This consistent inflow is extremely rare in ETF history, indicating that institutional investor confidence in XRP is building solidly.

Since its launch in November 2025, the U.S. XRP spot ETF market has accumulated net inflows of over $1.4 billion, with net outflows in just two days. In contrast, Bitcoin ETFs experienced more outflow days during the same period, a contrast that indicates the market acceptance and funding appeal of XRP ETFs. Reasons why institutional investors choose XRP over Bitcoin may include: XRP’s relatively low valuation, clearer practical application scenarios, and compliance advantages brought about by regulatory certainty.

ETFs provide compliant and convenient investment channels, allowing traditional institutions such as pension funds and pensions to participate in XRP investments. This shift in demand structure provides more stable and sustained financial support for XRP. Unlike retail funds, which often move in and out quickly, institutional funds typically adopt a long-term allocation strategy, and this inflow of “smart money” creates a solid bottom for the XRP price.

As one of Europe’s largest cryptocurrency ETP issuers, 21Shares’ forecast has significant market reference value. The company manages billions of dollars in crypto assets, and its research team has a deep understanding of market dynamics. 21Shares chose to release a bullish report on XRP at this time, suggesting that its internal research believes that the current price is undervalued and there is significant room for future upside.

The dual catalysis of regulatory clarity and application expansion

While short-term volatility has limited recent gains, analysts believe that clearer regulations and rising institutional demand could finally unlock the kind of explosive growth XRP fans have been waiting for for a long time. If momentum continues to build, the $2.69 price target could be just the beginning, especially after increased regulatory clarity and Wall Street increased bets on XRP’s long-term role in cross-border payments.

RippleNet, Ripple’s cross-border payment network, has established partnerships with hundreds of financial institutions worldwide, and the transaction volume processed continues to grow. Since its launch in December 2024, the RLUSD stablecoin has skyrocketed by 1800% in less than a year, soaring from $7200K to $13.8M. This growth indicates that the Ripple ecosystem is expanding rapidly, providing real demand support for XRP.

The cryptocurrency market structure bill just passed by the Senate Agriculture Committee, although it still needs to be merged with the Banking Committee version, has already provided a clearer regulatory direction for the crypto industry. If the bill is finally passed by the full Senate, it will clear the final hurdle for XRP’s compliant application in the United States. By then, more U.S. banks and payment companies may adopt XRP as a cross-border settlement tool.