   
XRP’s price surge over the past 24 hours has pushed its market cap past that of Binance-affiliated BNB, reclaiming its position as the fourth-largest cryptocurrency.
With the exception of stablecoins, XRP now trails only Bitcoin and Ethereum. Bitcoin ranks first with a market cap of $1.79 trillion, followed by Ethereum with $373 billion.
XRP’s price shot above the vaunted $2 mark on Friday for the first time since mid-December, extending a strong start into 2026. XRP’s rapid price performance can be attributed to strong ETF (spot exchange-traded fund) inflows and the improving US regulatory environment.
XRP back in the top 4 after flipping BNB
The market capitalization of XRP has risen to third place among the top cryptocurrencies in terms of market capitalization. XRP changed hands at $2.01 at the time of publication, up 5.6%, while Bitcoin traded just above $90,000, according to data from CoinGecko shows.
The uptick also comes as investors reevaluate the regulatory environment, as SEC Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw, known for her skepticism toward crypto, will leave the agency this week after serving a five-year term at the United States’ top digital assets regulator — a major victory for the crypto industry’s push to expand its influence on Capitol Hill.
 Crenshaw publicly denounced the SEC’s settlement with Ripple after their lengthy legal battle, warning that it marked a retreat from meaningful crypto enforcement and left investors exposed.
Crenshaw’s departure fuels hopes that more digital asset-friendly regulation will take root in the US.
Steady ETF inflows added to the momentum. According to data from SoSoValue, US-listed spot Sustained demand has helped shift supply and demand dynamics in favor of XRP bulls as confidence slowly rebuilds.
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