Where Will the Cryptocurrency XRP Be in 1 Year?

By Johnny Rice – Mar 3, 2026 at 3:15PM ESTKey PointsRipple recently rebranded and is leaning into stablecoins following the launch of RLUSD.XRP's core investment thesis could be undermined by RLUSD. Ripple may thrive in 2026, but that success may not translate to gains for XRP holders.After rocketing to highs nearing $3.50 last year, XRP (XRP 3.09%) has fallen below $1.50 as Bitcoin and the broader crypto market slide. Investors may be wondering if they should jump in and buy the dip. But the current sell-off might not be the real concern for XRP holders; it's possible the dip isn't a dip at all, but a new normal. So, where might XRP be a year from now? To answer that, we have to look at Ripple, the company behind the token, and its pivot toward stablecoins. ExpandCRYPTO: XRPXRPToday's Change(-3.09%) $-0.04Current Price$1.35Key Data PointsMarket Cap$83BDay's Range$1.34 - $1.4052wk Range$1.14 - $3.65Volume3.1B Ripple is all-in on stablecoins Ripple has spent the past year and change repositioning itself as a stablecoin infrastructure company. Its website now leads with "integrate stablecoin payments into your business." It acquired stablecoin payments company Rail for $200 million. And it launched RLUSD, its own dollar-backed stablecoin, which it's aggressively pushing into the cross-border payments market. This isn't happening in a vacuum.

The Genius Act provided stablecoins with real regulatory clarity, and Ripple is building to capitalize on it. RLUSD can function as a bridge asset within Ripple's cross-border payment products. That might sound tangential to what we're discussing -- XRP's value -- but it very much is not. It's critically important because XRP has always been the key bridge asset in Ripple's cross-border payment system. RLUSD's adoption cannibalizes XRP's "market share" within its own ecosystem. Why RLUSD complicates XRP's bull case XRP's investment thesis has always rested on the idea that growing adoption of Ripple's products would drive demand for the token. That argument was already shaky. Institutions that use XRP for cross-border payments convert in and out of XRP nearly instantly -- every buy order is matched with an immediate sell order, creating little lasting demand pressure. Image source: Getty Images. Now layer RLUSD on top of that. It offers institutions a stable, regulated alternative within the same Ripple ecosystem. It combines the best of both worlds for banks that value stability and security above all. XRP's performance in 2026 Ripple, the company, will probably have a strong year. Its payment infrastructure is proven, and RLUSD is gaining traction. But XRP holders likely won't share in that success. A year from now, I expect XRP to have underperformed the broader market and have struggled to get back above $1.50. Ironically, it won't be because Ripple failed, but because Ripple succeeded -- just with stablecoins, not XRP.Read NextMar 3, 2026 •By Alex CarchidiBetter Cryptocurrency to Buy Right Now With $2,000 and Hold for 5 Years: XRP vs. EthereumMar 3, 2026 •By Alex CarchidiThis 1 Accelerating Trend Could Drive XRP and Ethereum Higher and HigherMar 3, 2026 •By Will EbiefungGot $500? 3 Reasons to Consider Buying XRP.Mar 2, 2026 •By Alex CarchidiBetter Cryptocurrency to Buy Now With $1,000 and Hold for 3 Years: XRP vs. EthereumMar 1, 2026 •By Keith NoonanXRP Plunges 26% As Crypto Market Faces Fresh HeadwindsMar 1, 2026 •By Alex Carchidi4 Reasons to Buy $2,500 of XRP (Ripple) and Hold It for at Least 5 YearsAbout the AuthorJohnny Rice is a contributing writer for The Motley Fool covering tech stocks. He previously contributed to various financial publications.TMFJohnnyRiceStocks MentionedXRPCRYPTO: XRP$1.35(-3.09%)-$0.04BitcoinCRYPTO: BTC$67,964.00(-2.13%)-$1,477.30Ripple USDCRYPTO: RLUSD$1.00(-0.02%)-$0.00*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.