XRP tops early-year crypto gains as CNBC spotlights momentum

XRP’s bid strengthened into early January alongside a broader crypto rebound. Broadcast clips from CNBC’s Power Lunch circulated on social media with anchor Brian Sullivan saying, “The hottest crypto trade of the year is not Bitcoin, it is not Ether, it is XRP,” following a multi-day rally that pushed the token ahead of large-cap peers on a year-to-date basis. Market wrap coverage the same week recorded fresh gains across majors, with Bitcoin near the low-$90,000s and Ether above $3,100.

The framing comes after a strong first stretch for XRP: by January 6–7, the asset had advanced more than 20% year to date, according to multiple desk recaps and exchange trackers that attributed flows to momentum traders rotating out the risk curve as liquidity improved. Separate reports highlighted XRP’s role in the early-2026 rally leg, noting it outpaced Bitcoin and Ether over the same window.

Analysts pointed to several factors behind the callout. Short-term relative strength flipped in XRP’s favor during thin post-holiday liquidity, a backdrop where tokens with payments narratives can draw incremental flow when spreads compress. Broad-market gauges also turned higher: Bitcoin printed month-to-date gains near 6% in the same period, while Ether advanced toward the low-$3,200s – conditions that historically coincide with altcoin beta picking up.

The “hottest trade” label quickly propagated across crypto media and trading communities, amplifying attention on whether XRP’s leadership would persist as volumes normalize. Reposts of the CNBC segment and wire-style briefs summarized the network’s stance and emphasized that the call differentiated XRP from Bitcoin and Ether at this stage of the year.

Televised endorsements and headline framing can catalyze short-term momentum in liquid tokens, but sustained leadership typically depends on continued depth, listings, and on-chain activity. Early-January market wraps underscored that the broader complex was firming – with Bitcoin stabilizing above $90,000 and Ether above $3,100 – while XRP was the standout on a relative basis, prompting CNBC’s on-air superlative.