Coinbase Survey Shows 25% Institutions Eye XRP in 2026 Allocation

A new Coinbase survey has brought XRP back into the spotlight at a time when the crypto market remains under pressure. The report shows that 25% of institutional investors plan to add XRP to their allocations in 2026, even as digital asset prices stay weak.

At the same time, market data shows XRP price is moving toward a major support area that could shape its next move. The mix of fresh institutional interest and a nearby technical decision point has turned attention to short-term XRP price prediction.

Coinbase Survey Points to Institutional Crypto Demand

Coinbase’s January 2026 survey, conducted with Ernst & Young, shows that large investors still plan to stay active in crypto this year. The study covered 351 institutional investors, and 96% of them managed more than $1 billion in assets. Most respondents came from the United States, with Europe making up another large share.

The results show that institutions are not leaving the market after the downturn that began in October 2025. Instead, many are adjusting their strategy. According to the survey, 73% plan to increase their crypto holdings in 2026. In addition, 29% expect crypto to account for more than 5% of assets under management, up from 18% before.

Also, the report shows a shift toward safer access points and stricter controls. About 66% of institutions now use ETFs or ETPs, and 81% prefer regulated investment products. Risk management has also gained more attention, with nearly half of respondents saying they have increased their focus on it.

XRP Gains Ground in Institutional Diversification Plans

Within that broader trend, XRP is emerging as one of the assets drawing interest beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. The survey places XRP among the main altcoins that institutions hold or plan to add. It appears alongside Solana, BNB, TRX, Cardano, Dogecoin, and Chainlink in that group.

As of January 2026, 18% of institutions already held XRP. Another 25% said they plan to add it during the year. That matters because the survey also projects that 56% of institutions will hold assets beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum in 2026. The data points to a wider diversification push, and XRP appears to be part of it.

Bitcoin still remains the dominant institutional asset. The report says 94% of institutions held Bitcoin as of January 2026. However, only 91% plan to maintain or increase that exposure this year. That gap suggests some capital may rotate toward other assets, including XRP and other large-cap altcoins.

The survey also points to growth in stablecoins, decentralized finance, and tokenization. Stablecoins lead the list, with 86% of institutions either using them or planning to. DeFi participation could rise from 13% today to 56% by 2028, and interest in tokenized assets remains strong among asset managers. That wider expansion may support more attention on established altcoins with deep liquidity.

XRP Price Prediction: Ripple Nears a Confluence Zone

Alongside the survey data, XRP’s chart structure has become a major focus. XRP has lost more than half its value since October 2025 and remains under pressure after months of lower highs and lower lows. Market data shows the token trading near $1.38, after a long decline from the July 2025 peak of $3.60.

Technical analysis now points to a confluence zone that may decide the next direction. This area combines three support factors. They include the lower boundary of a multi-month falling channel, the $1 psychological level, and a weekly support zone between $0.84 and $1.04.

XRPUSD 1-Week Chart | Source: TradingView

That setup matters because XRP has defended the $1 region before. The asset broke above that level during the November 2024 rally and has not closed below it in a lasting way since then. Past pullbacks toward that area have attracted demand, including the move down to around $1.10 earlier this year.

The weekly support band adds another layer to the setup. XRP price spent a long period below the $0.84 to $1.04 range before turning it into support during the 2024 breakout. Now that the falling channel support meets that same area, traders are watching for another reaction near the zone.

If XRP reaches that confluence area and holds above it, the altcoin could open room for a rebound. In that case, the first major upside target stands near the $2 region.