Crypto analysts have noted a bullish flag on Ripple XRP’s latest price charts that could spark a mega bull cycle soon, one that mimics Bitcoin’s 2024 explosion. XRP is currently flashing a rare monthly golden cross against Bitcoin for the first time since 2018, a setup that could trigger a 1,200% relative run and map a $24 XRP case if BTC stays flat.
The latter top cryptocurrency has struggled in the second half of 2025, falling by over 18% in the last six months. From record highs at $122,000 down to $80,000, the king crypto is hoping to rebound strongly in 2026. However, should it not rally tremendously, it could prove a spark for other top altcoins like XRP and ETH to have better performances. With Bitcoin at $87,976 right now, XRP at 0.00002116 BTC implies about $1.86 per coin, and the 0.00027508 BTC target implies about $24.20 per coin if BTC stays flat.
Furthermore, if the golden cross is confirmed and the ratio starts moving closer to the asset’s 2018 ceiling, XRP wouldn’t need Bitcoin to crash to rally. Instead, it would just need sustained relative demand, and the upside math will become much more significant quickly. Next year could be a big year for the Ripple cryptocurrency, with January forecasts already bullish.
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Ripple XRP 2026 Forecasts
At press time, XRP forecasts for January 2026 range between $1.77 to as high as $3.40, with some optimistic scenarios (impossibly ambitious ones) going as high as $8. While those higher forecasts would require near-miracles on the market, should those doors be knocked on, a boom towards $10 and beyond could be unlocked.
Standard Chartered, a leading banking giant, also predicts a fresh price spike for XRP in 2026. The firm believes Ripple’s price has the potential to surge as high as 330% from its current price while banking on the brewing ETF narrative in the near future. Analyst Geoffrey Kendrick believes the new year could usher in new price energy for XRP, indeed, providing that $8 forecast mentioned earlier. Should XRP ETF inflows surge in the opening months of 2026, the Ripple coin could witness a monstrous surge.
Also Read: Why Standard Chartered Predicted A 330% Price Surge For Ripple (XRP)?
Other bullish factors could also send XRP higher outside of this Bitcoin cross. The CLARITY Act is expected to be confirmed soon. The new crypto bill will introduce more open-handed rules about the way financial institutions will be able to interact with digital assets. This change of regulation can help the adoption be realized in the long run, pumping institutional interest in altcoins like XRP and sending prices higher.