XRP Regains Fourth-Largest Cryptocurrency Spot Amid Regulatory Changes

XRP has reclaimed its position as the fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, overtaking BNB in recent market movements.

The significant increase in price and valuation of XRP can be attributed to the joint guidance issued by the SEC and CFTC on March 17, 2026, which classified XRP as a digital commodity. This change has opened up new opportunities for institutional investors, including hedge funds and banks, to trade the asset under existing commodity frameworks.

Market data shows that following the regulatory announcement, XRP prices hit $1.60 on March 17 as trading volumes surged by 250%. Although broader market corrections caused by Federal Reserve inflation forecasts temporarily slowed the momentum, the digital asset has managed to break out of its previous trading range between $1.35 and $1.45.

Analysts suggest that XRP would need to reach a token price of approximately $4.79 to match the current valuation of Ethereum, which stands at $295 billion. The future growth of XRP is expected to be driven by increased ETF participation and the continued expansion of Ripple's payment infrastructure.