Expert Says Telling XRP Won’t Hit $100 This Year Feels Like Telling Kids Santa Isn’t Real

Prominent XRP commentator Zach Rector stirred discussion in the community after sharing his take on XRP price trajectory for this year.

In a Tuesday post on X, Rector argued that telling XRP holders the price cannot reach $100 this year is similar to telling a child that Santa isn’t real.

According to Rector, XRP remains well-positioned for solid appreciation before year-end —even if triple-digit dreams may seem out of reach for now amid the market lull.

He emphasized that XRP’s performance this cycle has already outpaced many altcoins, several of which continue to lag. This view is supported by the fact that XRP boasts a year-to-date gain of 290%. At the same time, many other cryptocurrencies remain in the red.

Meanwhile, at press time, XRP is trading around $2.40, reflecting a substantial 26.52% loss over the last 90 days. This short-term performance has been frustrating for holders, but commentators like Rector often point to the yearly performance to argue for a more favorable outlook.

While many traders remain optimistic that the next leg of the bull run could push XRP price to new highs, the triple-digit prediction has raised significant eyebrows.

Community Reactions

Many commentators on the post argued that while triple-digit expectations may be unrealistic in the short term, XRP still has room to appreciate significantly. One user suggested that a move to the $8–$10 range by year-end, and possibly up to $14 over the cycle, would be a reasonable outlook.

Others responded with humor. Chris Coope asked whether Rector was really saying “Santa isn’t real,” since a 4,000% surge to $100 in the next six weeks is highly unlikely.

Similarly, X user Crypto Dog dismissed the $100 year-end prediction, emphasizing that XRP’s true strength lies in its utility rather than hype. He suggested that the groundwork being laid now could pave the way for much higher valuations in the coming years.

Meanwhile, X user MG argued that no one truly knows XRP’s ceiling, pointing to potential influences like major bank partnerships that could dramatically affect its value.

“$100 XRP May Happen in 2026”

Interestingly, X user “ED” forecasted that while $100 this year may be unlikely, the target could still be achievable by 2026 as XRP becomes more entrenched in banking systems. He added that traditional crypto “cycles” may no longer apply to XRP’s unique position in financial infrastructure.

From a regulatory perspective, Calogero noted that the pace of regulatory developments should temper optimism. He explained that even with the passage of new market infrastructure laws, implementation would take several months, delaying the full impact on XRP’s adoption and price.

Ultimately, while most agree that $100 this year is improbable, the overall sentiment remains positive. Widely cited projections from Telegaon and Changelly suggest it could take XRP a decade to reach $100.