XRP takes over 2026

January 07, 2026

 

Reading time: 5 minutes

XRP steals 2026 spotlight while Ripple shuns IPO plans

Key points:

  • Ripple reiterated it has no plans for an IPO, citing a strong balance sheet and recent private funding that allows it to self-finance growth.

  • XRP has emerged as one of the strongest performers of early 2026, fueled by ETF inflows, renewed investor attention, and relative strength against major peers.

News - Ripple has once again ruled out going public, even as interest around its ecosystem intensifies. 

President Monica Long said the company remains committed to staying private, emphasizing that Ripple does not need public market liquidity to execute its strategy. The stance follows a $500 million funding round in November 2025 that valued the firm at $40 billion, backed by investors including Fortress Investment Group and Citadel Securities.

Long noted that Ripple is well positioned to fund expansion internally while continuing to build out products and infrastructure. 

Over 2025, the company completed four acquisitions totaling nearly $4 billion, part of a broader push to become an end-to-end provider of enterprise digital asset services. These moves have expanded Ripple’s reach across payments, custody, liquidity, and institutional offerings.

XRP’s breakout narrative grows - While Ripple focuses on long-term product development, its native token XRP has surged into the spotlight. CNBC recently labeled XRP the hottest crypto trade of 2026 after the token posted gains of roughly 24% to 25% in early January, outperforming Bitcoin and Ether. 

CNBC host Brian Sullivan described XRP as the unexpected leader of the year’s crypto rally, while Mackenzie Sigalos highlighted strong ETF inflows that began during weaker market conditions in late 2025.

Spot XRP ETFs have now attracted more than $1 billion in cumulative inflows, with no recorded outflow days so far. This demand has helped XRP reclaim its position as the fourth-largest crypto asset by market capitalization, though analysts remain divided on whether thin liquidity or sustained buying is driving the move.

Momentum meets caution - Despite the bullish narrative, recent pullbacks and technical resistance have kept traders cautious in the short term. Still, declining exchange balances, strong ETF participation, and Ripple’s expanding enterprise footprint continue to reinforce XRP’s role as one of the most closely watched assets at the start of 2026.

MSCI decision forces rethink for Bitcoin treasury stocks

Key points:

  • MSCI’s latest index ruling preserved inclusion for Bitcoin treasury firms but capped future passive inflows tied to new share issuance.

  • Strategy, Metaplanet, and similar firms now face tighter constraints on how easily equity markets can fund further Bitcoin accumulation.

News - MSCI has reshaped the outlook for Bitcoin treasury companies by confirming they will remain in its global equity indexes while simultaneously tightening the mechanics that previously supported steady passive inflows. 

The decision removed fears of forced selling but introduced new limits that are forcing investors to reassess the sustainability of treasury-led accumulation strategies.

Under the updated rules, MSCI said it will no longer adjust index weightings to reflect newly issued shares. In the past, when companies such as Strategy raised equity to fund Bitcoin purchases, passive index funds were required to buy a portion of that issuance. That automatic demand is now gone, reducing a key tailwind for future capital raises.

The change landed heavily on Strategy, whose stock fell more than 4% following the announcement. While the company’s perpetual preferred equity STRC returned to its $100 par value, reopening the possibility of at-the-market issuance, analysts questioned whether preferred equity can fully replace the loss of index-driven buying support.

Treasury stocks react unevenly - Reaction across the sector was mixed. In Japan, Metaplanet rose 4%, lifting its valuation relative to Bitcoin holdings to a three-month high after MSCI removed near-term index exclusion risk. 

U.S. peers showed more muted responses, reflecting uncertainty around how future funding cycles will be absorbed without passive inflows.

A debate deferred, not settled - MSCI’s decision also reignited debate over whether Bitcoin-heavy balance sheets should be treated as operating businesses or leveraged investment vehicles. 

By freezing index footprint growth and signaling a broader consultation on non-operating firms, MSCI postponed that classification battle while placing Bitcoin treasury companies under sharper scrutiny going forward.

Bitcoin itself dipped modestly during the session, but the deeper impact was structural. The rules governing how treasury firms finance Bitcoin accumulation have changed, and markets are now recalibrating to that reality.

Morgan Stanley deepens crypto push with Ethereum staking ETF filing

Key points:

  • Morgan Stanley has filed for a spot Ethereum ETF that plans to generate additional yield through staking, expanding its regulated crypto product lineup.

  • The move reflects rising institutional comfort with crypto ETFs, even as Ether price action remains mixed and investor behavior diverges.

News - Morgan Stanley has taken another step deeper into crypto markets after filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to launch a spot Ethereum exchange traded fund. 

The proposed Morgan Stanley Ethereum Trust aims to buy, hold, and track the price of Ether while staking a portion of its holdings through third-party service providers to generate passive yield.

According to the S-1 filing, the fund will not engage in speculative trading of Ether. Instead, it plans to earn staking rewards while managing liquidity for investor redemptions. 

Morgan Stanley Investment Management is listed as the sponsor, with CSC Delaware Trust Company named as trustee. Details around custodians and listing venues were not disclosed.

The Ethereum filing follows similar applications submitted earlier this week for spot Bitcoin and Solana ETFs, marking the bank’s third crypto ETF registration in early 2026. 

The expansion builds on Morgan Stanley’s broader crypto strategy, which has steadily evolved since the firm opened crypto access to all clients in October 2025, including those with retirement accounts.

Staking and ETF demand in focus - If approved, the Ethereum Trust could introduce a new source of institutional demand for Ether at a time when spot Ether ETFs have shown resilience despite sharp market volatility. 

According to Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart, US spot Ether ETFs have seen roughly $2.8 billion in outflows from peak levels, retaining the majority of inflows even after a major market correction.

On-chain data also points to mixed but active participation. Large holders increased Ether exposure over the past week, while so called smart money traders reduced positions. At the same time, newly created wallets accumulated more than $2 billion worth of Ether, signaling renewed interest from fresh entrants.

TradFi momentum continues - Morgan Stanley’s latest filing underscores a broader push by traditional financial institutions to expand regulated crypto offerings. As ETF structures evolve beyond simple price tracking, staking is emerging as a growing lever firms are exploring within regulated crypto products.

Nike quietly exits RTFKT as corporate NFT bet unravels

Key points:

  • Nike has quietly sold RTFKT, ending one of the most high-profile corporate NFT experiments launched during the 2021 boom.

  • The exit highlights how shifting market conditions, legal risk, and falling demand have reshaped brand-led NFT strategies.

News - Nike has quietly divested RTFKT, the digital collectibles studio it acquired during the peak of the NFT cycle, according to multiple reports citing The Oregonian. The sale reportedly took place in December, though neither the buyer nor financial terms were disclosed. 

Nike confirmed only that the transaction marked a new chapter for RTFKT and its community, effectively ending the company’s direct involvement with the project.

The divestment follows Nike’s decision nearly a year earlier to shut down RTFKT’s operations, drawing a close to one of the most ambitious attempts by a global consumer brand to build a long-term presence in NFTs and Web3-linked products. 

Nike said it continues to support digital experiences through partnerships tied to gaming, but the sale signals a clear retreat from operating an in-house NFT studio.

From metaverse vision to market reality - Nike acquired RTFKT in December 2021 as NFTs surged in popularity. 

At the time, the studio was known for virtual sneakers, digital wearables, and collaborations that blended streetwear culture with blockchain ownership. Some RTFKT NFTs traded for thousands of dollars, with holders promised access to quests, challenges, and future digital experiences.

As the broader NFT market cooled, engagement slowed and secondary prices fell, weakening the business case for maintaining a standalone digital collectibles unit. Nike ultimately announced plans to shutter RTFKT, triggering backlash from holders who said the project’s value was closely tied to Nike’s ongoing involvement.

Legal fallout and broader pullback - The shutdown sparked a class action lawsuit from NFT holders seeking more than $5 million in damages, alleging Nike’s branding and marketing shaped expectations around long-term support. The reported sale adds another layer to that dispute, formally separating the brand from RTFKT’s future direction.

Nike’s exit comes amid a sharp contraction across the NFT sector. Market capitalization has fallen significantly since 2021 highs, while several platforms and events have scaled back or shut down altogether. 

The RTFKT episode underscores a broader lesson for brands: NFT initiatives closely tied to corporate backing can unravel quickly once that backing is withdrawn.

Did you know?

  • Bitcoin quietly resets its own difficulty: Bitcoin automatically adjusts its mining difficulty every 2,016 blocks (roughly once every two weeks) to ensure new blocks continue to be produced about every 10 minutes, regardless of how much mining power joins or leaves the network.

  • Ethereum finality is not instant: Even after a transaction is included in a block, Ethereum considers it final only after two justified epochs, meaning transactions become irreversible only after additional consensus confirmations rather than at first inclusion.

  • Some stablecoins can be frozen after they move: Certain fiat-backed stablecoins include administrative controls that allow issuers to blacklist addresses and freeze tokens even after they have been transferred, introducing a layer of centralized intervention that does not exist in native cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

Top 3 coins of the day

Polygon (POL)

Key points:

  • POL was last seen trading at $0.12, posting a mild daily uptick while extending its broader weekly recovery.

  • Price reclaimed the 9-day SMA as volume expanded, with RSI climbing toward the upper neutral zone.

What you should know:

Polygon’s price attempted a short-term recovery after spending several weeks in a steady downtrend. 

The latest daily candles showed buyers stepping back in near the $0.11–$0.12 zone, pushing price above the 9-day SMA. This shift suggested improving short-term momentum, with the moving average now acting as immediate support. RSI rose to the mid-60s, reflecting strengthening demand without entering overbought territory yet.

Volume picked up alongside the rebound, lending credibility to the move rather than a low-liquidity bounce. 

Beyond technicals, sentiment around Polygon remained supported by ongoing deflationary token burns and elevated network activity, which continued to reinforce the longer-term value narrative. Still, POL traded below prior swing highs, keeping the broader structure cautious. 

Holding above the $0.12 region remains important, while the $0.13–$0.14 area stands as the next resistance zone to watch if momentum persists.

TRON (TRX)

Key points:

  • TRX edged higher over the past day, trading at $0.29, as buyers defended the $0.28 support zone despite broader market weakness.

  • The Parabolic SAR flipped below price while the Stochastic RSI stayed elevated, signaling improving short-term momentum backed by steady volume.

What you should know:

TRX’s recent price action reflected stabilization after a prolonged pullback, with the latest candles forming higher lows from the late-December base. 

The Parabolic SAR switching beneath the candles marked a shift in short-term trend bias, suggesting buyers had begun regaining control. At the same time, the Stochastic RSI pushed into the upper range, highlighting strong momentum, though conditions appeared close to overextended.

Volume trends supported this recovery, remaining firm during the rebound rather than showing signs of exhaustion. 

On the fundamental side, sentiment was supported by Abu Dhabi’s regulatory approval of USDT on the TRON network, reinforcing confidence in TRON’s role within global stablecoin settlement infrastructure. Derivatives activity also picked up, reflecting increased trader engagement around current levels.

As long as TRX holds above $0.28, the structure stays constructive. A sustained move toward $0.30 remains the immediate level to watch for continuation.

JasmyCoin (JASMY)

Key points:

  • JASMY remained volatile despite its recent breakout, with the latest session closing in the red as traders locked in gains after a sharp rally.

  • Volume stayed elevated compared to prior sessions, while price action showed early signs of cooling even as momentum indicators remained constructive.

What you should know:

JasmyCoin staged a strong upside move earlier this week after rebounding from its late-December base, supported by a decisive expansion in volume. 

The price pushed above the 9-day SMA during the breakout phase, confirming a shift away from its prior downtrend. However, the most recent daily candle turned red, signaling short-term profit-taking after the rapid advance rather than fresh downside pressure.

While the latest session closed lower, the Awesome Oscillator expanded further, suggesting momentum strength persisted despite near-term selling pressure. Volume remained relatively high versus previous weeks, suggesting that participation stayed active even as the rally cooled.

From a structural perspective, the $0.0086–$0.0088 zone now stands as immediate support, while $0.0098–$0.0100 remains a near-term resistance area to watch. How price behaves around the 9-day SMA is key, as sustained holds above it would keep the broader recovery intact despite short-term consolidation.

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