XRP has surged past Binance Coin (BNB) to become the world's fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, marking a significant shift in the competitive landscape among top digital assets. According to data from CoinCodex and CoinMarketCap, XRP's market cap reached approximately $92.55 billion, narrowly edging out BNB's roughly $91.38 billion. The difference between the two rivals is just over $1 billion, highlighting the intense and volatile nature of the race for dominance.
The milestone was achieved as XRP's price briefly reclaimed the key psychological level of $1.60, an important threshold that often shapes trader sentiment. Although the price has since eased to around $1.51, the breakout signaled renewed buying pressure and strengthening confidence. This development occurs amid a broader market rebound, with Bitcoin's recent rise contributing to overall positive sentiment.
Analysts point to several factors driving XRP's momentum. The asset is emerging from a prolonged six-year consolidation period, a technical pattern that often precedes major breakouts. Some analysts now see XRP building bullish momentum with potential price targets between $3 and $8, which could trigger one of its most significant rallies in years. Furthermore, derivatives data from Binance shows a 59% jump in open interest, indicating a surge in active futures contracts and growing trader confidence.
On-chain metrics also support the bullish narrative. Data aggregator Santiment reported that the XRP Ledger has surpassed 7.7 million holders (non-empty wallets) for the first time in its 13-year history. Additionally, Monday closed with a 5-week high of 46,767 active addresses as XRP's price jumped 14% within a 48-hour span.
However, the news is not uniformly positive for XRP. According to CoinShares data, XRP-based investment products experienced significant institutional outflows of $76.1 million over the past week, bringing total outflows since the start of the month to $133 million. This contrasts sharply with Bitcoin and Ethereum products, which saw inflows of $794.3 million and $315.3 million, respectively, during the same period. Analysts suggest reasons for the outflows may include geopolitical instability driving investors toward traditional safe havens, profit-taking after recent price surges, and a shift in institutional preference.
The community attributes XRP's market performance to recent regulatory tailwinds, including its legal victory against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the launch of XRP-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The XRP–BNB rivalry remains razor-close, and even small price moves could flip the rankings again, keeping the battle for the fourth spot fiercely alive.
