Analyst Predicts 5,000 XRP Will Equal 1 BTC in 2026

Crypto analyst and developer Bird (@Bird_XRPL) forecasted that 5,000 XRP will be worth 1 Bitcoin in 2026, implying an XRP price near $18.24 if BTC trades at $91,200. Bird framed this as a confident projection rather than speculation, highlighting a valuation benchmark that would place XRP in double-digit territory. Current exchange rates imply roughly 44,500 XRP per BTC, so Bird’s ratio suggests significant appreciation for XRP relative to Bitcoin. Community responses ranged from enthusiasm to speculative scenarios, including tokenization use cases and debates over whether XRP could flip Bitcoin. Supporters argued that a higher XRP price would deepen on-chain liquidity and help tokenization of real-world assets. Bird emphasized the importance of on-chain XRP availability for creating liquidity pools between XRP and tokenized assets. The article notes this is opinion, not financial advice.
Bullish
The prediction that 5,000 XRP will equal 1 BTC presents a bullish narrative for XRP. If traders treat Bird’s statement as a credible target, it can increase speculative demand, driving short-term price appreciation as positions are opened to chase higher expected returns. The argument that higher XRP value supports deeper on-chain liquidity and tokenization adds a fundamental rationale that could sustain longer-term interest, especially if XRP adoption in tokenization or liquidity pools grows. Historically, confident price targets from influential analysts or community figures often spur speculative rallies (e.g., high-profile BTC price calls or altcoin influencer-driven pumps). However, the prediction’s impact depends on macro factors (BTC price trajectory, broader crypto market sentiment, regulatory developments) and liquidity dynamics; if BTC rises strongly, XRP would need outsized gains to meet the ratio, which increases volatility risk. Short-term: likely heightened buying interest and volatility. Long-term: potential constructive narrative if real-world tokenization and liquidity adoption increase, but realization requires on-chain utility and macro stability. Overall, market reaction is expected to be net bullish for XRP sentiment but accompanied by elevated volatility and dependency on broader market conditions.