- Steven McClurg says XRP is building strength despite flat prices near $2.
- Institutional investors are buying XRP through ETFs while retail investors reduce exposure.
- More than $1 billion worth of XRP has been absorbed by ETF products so far.
As crypto prices move sideways and sentiment remains mixed, XRP is seeing a clear shift in who is buying and who is selling. In an interview, Steven McClurg, CEO of Canary Capital, explained why XRP could be building a base even while price action looks unimpressive.
His core point was simple. The surface-level charts do not reflect what is happening underneath.
Why Flat Prices Do Not Tell the Full Story
McClurg was asked about a possible move to $5 for XRP, which would be more than double the current levels near $2. He said that such a move would require time and a change in the broader market cycle, not a sudden surge.
According to McClurg, crypto is moving through a de-risking phase that often lines up with U.S. election cycles and macro uncertainty. In these periods, most assets struggle. Only a small group with real usage tends to hold steady or inch higher, while others fall.
He believes XRP fits that category because real financial infrastructure is being built on top of it.
ETF Demand Changing Ownership
McClurg also opened up about the role of XRP ETFs, which have absorbed more than $1 billion worth of XRP so far. Around $185 to $190 million is currently held in certain ETF products.
The buyers are not mostly retail traders. McClurg said the bulk of demand is coming from financial advisors and institutional investors.
When asked where XRP ETF inflows could stand by the end of 2026, with current inflows around $1.5 billion, McClurg said the pace of buying is likely to remain uneven but constructive.
Related: 3 Recurring Chart Patterns in XRP’s 12 Years of Trajectory—Explained
“For the first six months of this year, which I see as a bear phase, we could see around $1 billion, maybe $1.5 billion, flow into XRP ETFs,” he said. He believes the second half of the year could look very different if markets stabilize and liquidity returns.
“When we hit that trough and start turning higher again, that’s when I think total inflows could reach $5 to $6 billion by the end of 2026,” McClurg said.
Why Prices May React Later, Not Now
McClurg explained that ETF investors usually hold for longer periods and trade less often. As XRP moves from retail hands into ETFs, the supply becomes less active in the market.
In the short term, prices can stay flat because buyers and sellers are evenly matched. Once the de-risking phase ends and selling pressure eases, the reduced liquid supply could matter more.
Related: Stocks Slide, Bitcoin Jumps as Peter Schiff Calls Crypto Rally a “Sucker’s Bet”
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Source: https://coinedition.com/xrp-at-5-how-etf-flows-may-change-the-market-by-2026/
