RLUSD Surges as XRP Price Plunges Amid Shift in Network Usage

Ripple's stablecoin RLUSD has experienced significant growth in 2026, increasing by 1,278% to a market capitalization of $2.32 billion.

This surge comes despite XRP's price falling 27%, to around $1.39, and the network's transaction volume rising 21%.

The shift towards RLUSD is attributed to its stability due to the dollar peg, which has made it an attractive option for institutional users for settlements.

Seven XRP ETFs attracted $1.68 billion in investments, but the monthly release of escrowed XRP creates sell pressure, limiting price gains.