Ripple secures 2 EU licenses – Is XRP’s 2026 rally brewing?

Compliance has become quite a “buzzword” this cycle.Notably, the broader macro shift helps explain why. With frameworks like the CLARITY Act taking shape, regulation around digital assets is tightening, an early signal that institutional confidence is starting to build.In that context, Ripple’s [XRP] latest roadmap feels intentional. Recently, Ripple announced it received licensing approval from Luxembourg’s financial regulator, a move that brings it a step closer to the EU market.Source: XHowever, this wasn’t a one-off.The Luxembourg green light followed a similar approval in the U.K., less than a week earlier. Back-to-back regulatory wins like these don’t happen by chance. Instead, they signal a clear push toward expansion in Europe.More broadly, the momentum looks global. As mentioned in the chart, Ripple now holds 75+ licenses and registrations worldwide, has processed over $95 billion in volume, and reaches nearly 90% of daily FX markets.In short, the network is pushing hard to scale “globally” in payments, which brings up the bigger question: Is this growing focus on compliance and licensing setting the base for an XRP rally in the second half of 2026?How Ripple’s expansion strategy could fuel XRP in 2026The timing of Ripple’s global expansion looks anything but random.On a macro level, regulatory clearance is broadly bullish, not just for XRP, but for digital assets as a whole, because it brings DeFi closer to TradFi, with Europe playing a key role given its dominance in the payments space.At the fundamental level, however, it reflects growing traction on Ripple’s on-chain network, XRPL. The real question is whether the on-chain data backs this up. Notably, so far, XRPL appears to be gaining real momentum.Source: RWA.xyzLooking at the data, the momentum on XRPL is clearly capital-driven.For instance, RWA tokenized on XRPL surged over 2,200% in 2025, growing from $25 million to $568 million, and is now eyeing a $3–6 billion range this year. Meanwhile, RLUSD has emerged as a key liquidity layer.The result? Network activity is accelerating, with daily transactions consistently above 40,000, placing XRPL among the top six blockchains by usage. All in all, Ripple’s growth story is clearly backed by fundamentals.Now, looking at XRP: Strong on-chain usage, combined with Ripple’s expanding presence across major European markets, points to rising demand, making it a strategic setup for an XRP rally in 2026.Final ThoughtsBack-to-back EU approvals signal Ripple’s deliberate push for global expansion, boosting institutional confidence in XRP and digital assets.XRPL shows strong capital-driven momentum, setting the stage for a potential XRP rally in 2026.