Why Is XRP Still Down 17% for 2026 When Bitcoin and Solana Are Almost Even?

Bitcoin and Solana have nearly clawed back everything they lost in 2026, yet XRP keeps getting left behind despite outpacing both coins during the recent rally. The reason comes down to a mathematical trap that punishes coins with steeper drops…

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XRP(CRYPTO:XRP) is currently down about 17% for 2026, whileBitcoin(CRYPTO:BTC) andSolana(CRYPTO:SOL) have nearly erased their losses for the year. Bitcoin is down about 4%, and Solana is down around 3%. So, why is XRP lagging so much further behind when all three coins have been rallying together?

XRP Has Outpaced Bitcoin in the Rebound, but Not Solana

XRP has participated in the market rebound, gaining about 10% over the past month, outperforming Bitcoin’s 8% gain and trailing Solana’s impressive 16% increase. In the past week alone, XRP has risen approximately 8%, compared to Bitcoin’s 4% and Solana’s 9%. Additionally, trader sentiment has turned more positive, with CoinMarketCap’sCrypto Fear and Greed Indexregistering a score of 73 out of 100 on September 27, 2026, indicating a state of greed.

XRP Fell Harder Than Bitcoin and Solana Before the Rally

XRP started 2026 at $1.84 and is currently trading around $1.52, meaning holders require a gain of about 21% just to return to where they began the year. In contrast, Bitcoin started the year at $87,498 and currently trades near $84,261, making its recovery only about 4% away. Solana needs to gain roughly 3% to return to its starting point.

The disparity over the last year highlights this gap: XRP has lost about 46% over the past 12 months, dropping from $2.81, while Bitcoin has lost about 23% and Solana around 40%. As recently as early September, XRP wasdown 21% for 2026, so the recent rally has helped recover part of that loss.

XRP requires a larger gain to offset its previous losses. When a coin drops 17%, it must increase by 21% to return to its former price. Because XRP has faced bigger declines, this calculation is more detrimental to its recovery compared to Bitcoin and Solana.

Why XRP’s Bigger Monthly Gain Still Left It Behind Bitcoin

The past month illustrates this issue clearly. Bitcoin increased from $77,839 to $84,261, an 8% gain, while XRP rose from $1.38 to $1.52, a 10% gain.

Although XRP posted a larger percentage increase, Bitcoin finished the month only about 4% below its opening price for 2026, while XRP ended approximately 17% below. Thus, two coins can experience the same percentage growth yet conclude in very different positions, as the coin that fell more sharply starts its recovery from a lower base.

While buyer activity has picked up for XRP, it hasn’t been sufficient to close the gap compared to Bitcoin. XRP would need to replicate its 10% gain over the last month roughly twice to regain its value of $1.84, whereas Bitcoin could recover its losses with just half of one strong recovery month.

Why a Fear and Greed Reading of 73 Says Little About XRP

The Crypto Fear and Greed Index scores the overall market sentiment on a scale from 0 to 100 based on factors like price momentum, volatility, and trader positioning. Low scores indicate fear, while high scores suggest greed; a score of 73 reflects an optimistic market that hasn’t reached extreme greed.

Traders often use this index as acontrarian tool. During periods of extreme fear, most holders who wanted to sell have already done so. Conversely, during extreme greed, most buyers who wanted to enter the market have already purchased, meaning late buyers might end up buying at prices set by early sellers.

However, the index gauges the cryptocurrency market as a whole; thus, while Bitcoin’s strong performance can raise the score, XRP may lag behind.

Direct demand for XRP can be tracked through ETF inflows. According to SoSoValue, U.S. spot XRP ETFs attracted$75.6 million from September 21 to 25, up from approximately $9.6 million the previous week. Continued strong inflows could indicate that buyers are specifically choosing XRP rather than simply following the broader market trend.

Why Is XRP Still Down 17% for 2026?

XRP remains down 17% because it experienced more significant declines than Bitcoin and Solana before the current rally began. Despite outperforming Bitcoin in gains over the past week and month, XRP still needs approximately 21% to reach its starting point for the year, compared to Bitcoin’s 4%. The index reading of 73 does not alter this reality, as it reflects the overall market sentiment rather than XRP’s specific circumstances.

Consistent weekly ETF inflows and a close above $1.84 could help XRP return to breakeven for the year. XRP traded near $1.41 a week ago and $1.38 a month ago, which are now seen assupport levelsabout 7% and 9% below the current price. If XRP drops below $1.38, it could reverse its recent gains and require a climb of around 33% to break even.

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Sam Daodu is a crypto analyst who’s spent nearly a decade making blockchain understandable—no easy task when most whitepapers read like fever dreams. He writes for 24/7 Wall St., covering Bitcoin, altcoins, and crypto market analysis for investors. Before crypto, he was a tech writer (back when explaining “the cloud” was peak innovation). Since 2018, he’s written for CoinTelegraph, Yahoo Finance, The Block, Cryptonews, Zypto, Rain, and more—basically anywhere people want crypto news without the headache. Sam runs MacLabs Marketing, a content agency for crypto brands tired of sounding like AI wrote their website. He also publishes free crypto education on his site for Web3 enthusiasts who think “gas fees” is a typo. When he’s not writing or staring at charts, Sam’s either: – Watching anime (currently convinced One Piece has better tokenomics than most altcoins) – At the gym sculpting himself into a Greek god – Listening to the music your mum warned you only bad boys listen to Connect: LinkedIn | Email | MacLabs Marketing

Source: 247wallst.com