XRP to $2 in 2026? Here Are Two Potential Scenarios

XRP price is trading in a tight range of $1.82 and $1.91, even as traders position ahead into 2026. In the last 24 hours, the XRP price has not moved much, up 0.04% to $1.86 and up 0.07% weekly.Trading volumes remain muted, down 0.7% in the last 24 hours to $1.69 billion, according to CoinMarketCap data, as traders pause to assess XRP's next big move on the markets.The upcoming January escrow release could unlock volatility with eyes on the $2 mark in the event of a price rebound.BINANCE:XRPUSD Daily Chart, Courtesy: TradingView">According to crypto analyst "Steph is crypto," XRP just completed 393 days of sideways accumulation, with the same duration seen before the 2017 breakout. Back then, the price chopped, compressed and bored everyone before expanding aggressively."Steph is crypto" believes XRP is showing early breakout behavior despite the market not paying attention.Two potential scenarios exist in the short term: if $1.82 support holds and XRP can reclaim the $1.88-$1.89 zone, the next test for XRP is at $1.92. A close above this level might begin a significant recovery, opening the pathway to $2.00 and then $2.08.On the other hand, if the $1.82 support is lost, the next support lies at $1.77 and then in the $1.55 to $1.60 range.XRP 2026 predictionStandard Chartered predicts XRP to reach $8 by the end of 2026, about a 330% increase from current levels, citing regulatory clarity as a catalyst for its price.Geoff Kendrick, Standard Chartered's Global Head of Digital Assets Research, cites increasing institutional exposure owing to increased regulatory clarity, and Ripple and the XRP ecosystem being able to build without fear of litigation.XRP ETFs have pulled in over $1.25 billion in investors' money since their debut in November, according to data source SoSoValue. At the same time, XRP exchange balances have fallen toward multiyear lows.This might collectively create a setup for XRP's next move on the market, with the direction where the price trends being closely monitored.