Why Is XRP Still Down 17% for 2026 When Bitcoin and Solana Are Almost Even?, tell me about this news in (https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/09/28/why-is-xrp-still-down-17-for-2026-when-bitcoin-and-solana-are-almost-even/)
28-09-2026
The article explains that while Bitcoin and Solana have nearly erased their losses for 2026down roughly 4% and 3% year-to-date, respectivelyXRP remains down approximately 17% for the year, despite outperforming Bitcoin during recent rallies.
The main takeaways and reasons outlined in the report include:
The Mathematical Disadvantage (The Base Effect): The primary reason XRP lags behind is the asymmetrical math of deeper drawdowns. XRP started 2026 at $1.84 and trades around $1.52. Because it fell harder earlier in the year, it requires a gain of roughly 21% just to return to breakeven. In comparison, Bitcoin (trading near $84,261 vs. its $87,498 start) only needs about 4% to break even, and Solana needs about 3%.
Strong Recent Gains Aren’t Enough Yet: Over the past month, XRP actually outperformed Bitcoin, gaining about 10% compared to Bitcoin’s 8% (and trailing Solana’s 16%). Over the past week, XRP gained about 8% against Bitcoin’s 4%. However, because XRP started its rebound from a much lower base, even stronger percentage gains leave it significantly further from its starting price. XRP would need to repeat its recent monthly gain roughly twice more just to reach $1.84.
Broad Market Sentiment vs. XRP-Specific Reality: The Crypto Fear and Greed Index registered a score of 73 out of 100 (“Greed”), indicating strong overall market optimism. However, this metric reflects the broader market as a whole (heavily weighted toward Bitcoin’s strength) rather than specific demand for XRP.
Key Catalysts and Support Levels to Watch: The article notes that real recovery will depend on direct demand rather than general market momentum. One positive indicator has been institutional interest via spot XRP ETFs, which attracted $75.6 million in late September (up from $9.6 million the previous week). For XRP to finish the year in the green, it must sustain these inflows and clear the $1.84 resistance level. Conversely, key support lies between $1.38 and $1.41; a drop below $1.38 would reverse recent progress and require an even steeper ~33% climb to reach breakeven.