When Will Ripple’s (XRP) Bull Run Resume? Four Leading AIs Share Their Forecasts
By Crypto News Desk – February 22, 2026
Overview
Ripple’s native token, XRP, has been on a turbulent ride since the U.S. presidential election cycle of late‑2024. After hovering around $0.60, the coin surged to its 2018 all‑time high of $3.40 in January 2025, fell back in the spring, and peaked again at $3.65 in July. Since that July high the price has declined sharply, now trading just under $1.40 – a 62 % drop from its recent peak.
To gauge whether the token is poised for a new rally, CryptoPotato asked four popular artificial‑intelligence platforms—ChatGPT (OpenAI), Gemini (Google), Grok (xAI) and Perplexity.ai—what they see as the timeline for a bottom, the subsequent recovery, and the potential upside. Their responses, while differing in specifics, converge on a few key themes: a bottom is likely to be found in early 2026, a modest summer‑time bounce could set the stage for a broader bull market later in the year, and long‑term institutional adoption could push XRP toward single‑digit dollar levels.
1. Where Is XRP Now?
- Recent price action – After a brief rejection at $2.40 in early January, XRP plunged to $1.11 a month later and has since found a modest floor near $1.40.
- Historical bias – February has traditionally been a weak month for XRP, and the current cycle follows that pattern, suggesting further downside pressure before a bottom materialises.
2. AI‑Based Bottom‑Finding Forecasts
| AI Platform | Bottom Timing | Indicators Cited |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | By April 2026 (possible earlier) | A 50 % monthly decline from early January to early February triggered buying pressure; funding rates have turned sharply negative, a precursor to past rallies. |
| Perplexity | Early 2026, likely March–April | Same price‑action signals as ChatGPT, plus a noticeable easing of panic selling. |
| Gemini | Spring 2026 (March‑May) | Emphasises “base‑building” after the bottom, with the 50‑day EMA (~$1.80) acting as the first technical barrier. |
| Grok | Spring 2026 | Aligns with Gemini on the need to retest the 50‑day EMA before a true recovery can begin. |
Consensus: All four models agree that XRP must first establish a clear floor before any sustained upside is realistic. The most optimistic view places that bottom in the first quarter of 2026, while the more cautious outlook pushes it to early‑mid‑spring.
3. Recovery Path and Early‑Stage Targets
- Technical trigger: Gemini points to the 50‑day exponential moving average (approximately $1.80) as the key level that, once reclaimed, would signal the end of the bear phase.
- Short‑term price ceiling: ChatGPT, weighing the fact that major catalysts such as the SEC lawsuit settlement and the approval of spot XRP ETFs have already been priced in, projects a base‑case rally to around $2.40 by the summer months. This would be a modest rebound but enough to mark “technical relief.”
- Mid‑year outlook: Both Grok and Perplexity suggest that a breach of the $2.00 mark would be considered a decisive turning point, after which the token could gain momentum heading into the summer trading season.
4. Long‑Term Bull Scenario
All four AIs agree that a full‑blown bull market is unlikely to materialise before Q4 2026. The timeline they sketch is:
- Q2–Q3 2026: Consolidation above $2.00‑$2.40, building a new base and attracting incremental institutional interest.
- Q4 2026 onward: A “breakout” driven by deeper adoption of Ripple’s on‑chain liquidity solutions and renewed demand for cross‑border settlement.
Price targets in the aggressive outlook
- ChatGPT: Envisions a best‑case scenario of roughly $8 by the end of 2026, assuming a rapid acceleration in institutional adoption.
- Perplexity: Extends the upside range to $8‑$13, describing it as a “long‑term consolidation breakout” target if the broader crypto market remains supportive.
These figures are speculative and hinge on factors beyond price charts, such as regulatory clarity, macro‑economic stability, and the rollout of new use‑cases for XRP within the Ripple ecosystem.
5. Analyst Takeaways
- Bottom likely in early 2026: All models signal that XRP is still hunting for a floor, with the most common estimate landing between February and April.
- Technical rebound required: Reclaiming the $1.80‑$2.00 zone (the 50‑day EMA) is a pivotal hurdle that could mark the end of the bear market.
- Short‑term upside modest: Even the optimistic models see a summer ceiling near $2.40, reflecting the fact that major tailwinds have already been priced in.
- Long‑term upside depends on adoption: Aggressive $8‑$13 targets are contingent on significant institutional uptake and expanded use of Ripple’s cross‑border network.
- Timing of a full bull run: Expect the next clear uptrend to start late in the year, possibly Q4 2026, rather than earlier.
Bottom Line
While the AI community remains divided on the precise timing, there is a clear consensus that XRP must first establish a firm bottom before any meaningful rally can begin. Technical indicators suggest that the 50‑day EMA around $1.80 is the first line in the sand. A modest summer bounce to the $2‑$2.40 range could set the stage for a broader, possibly institutional‑driven bull market that may not fully unfold until the final quarter of 2026. Investors should therefore keep an eye on both price action around the EMA and any emerging fundamental catalysts that could reignite the token’s long‑term growth story.
Source: https://cryptopotato.com/when-will-ripples-xrp-bull-run-resume-we-asked-4-ais-and-their-answers-surprised-us/
