The cryptocurrency market has found its new leader today as
$XRP (Ripple) registers a staggering 20% gain, outperforming major assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum. As of February 16, 2026, XRP is trading near the $1.60 mark, sparking renewed optimism among the "XRP Army."
1. The CFTC Catalyst
The primary driver behind today's price action is the news that Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has secured a seat on the CFTC Innovation Advisory Committee. This move is being interpreted by institutional investors as a "seat at the table," potentially ending years of regulatory uncertainty and positioning XRP as a compliant asset for U.S. markets.
2. Real-World Utility: Tokenized Commodities
Beyond the headlines, the XRP Ledger (XRPL) is seeing a massive influx of tokenized commodities. Recent data shows that XRPL now hosts over $1.1 billion in tokenized value, a 920% increase in just one month. This structural demand for XRP as a settlement layer is providing the fundamental "fuel" for the current rally.
3. Technical Outlook
From a technical perspective, XRP has formed a "double bottom" recovery pattern on the daily chart.
Support: Strong buyers are stepping in at $1.45.
Resistance: The next major hurdle sits at $1.88. A clean break above this could open the doors for a run toward the psychological $2.00 level.
Conclusion: While the market remains volatile, the combination of regulatory progress and on-chain growth makes this surge feel more sustainable than previous "hype-only" pumps.
#Xrp🔥🔥 #bulish