- XRP modified trades round $1.50 as the general market stays bearish.
- SBI CEO Yoshitaka Kitao stated that whereas the corporate doesn’t personal $10 billion of XRP, it does maintain a 9% stake in Ripple Labs.
- Will the bulls have the ability to regain $2 as the general market turns into extra resilient?
XRP worth hovered round $1.47 throughout Asian buying and selling hours on Monday, February 16, 2026, with the cryptocurrency down 8% over the previous 24 hours.
The altcoin’s intraday efficiency comes within the wake of feedback from SBI Holdings CEO Yoshitaka Kitao, who lately revealed the corporate’s investments in Ripple and the token XRP.
Rumors of XRP and $10 billion in SBI holdings
SBI, considered one of Ripple’s key companions, made headlines final week amid information of its acquisition of a Singapore-based cryptocurrency trade.
Nevertheless, together with this, rumors unfold that the corporate holds $10 billion of XRP tokens.
In response, SBI CEO Kitao responded to XPost, clarifying that SBI’s precise place just isn’t with XRP, however with a 9% stake in Ripple Labs.
XRP worth fell from a excessive of $1.60 to round $1.40 as Kitao made it clear that the Japanese monetary large is specializing in Ripple’s blockchain ecosystem.
“In terms of the whole valuation of Ripple Labs, which clearly contains the ecosystem that Ripple has created, it is going to be large. SBI owns over 9% of that quantity,” he posted.
Ripple (XRP) worth outlook
XRP worth actions in current months have largely tracked broader developments within the cryptocurrency market.
The SBI Holdings CEO’s feedback briefly spooked merchants, however consumers stepped in to guard the inventory above $1.40.
The token stays beneath stress as Bitcoin consolidates under $70,000, however the current transfer in direction of $1.60 and rebound from the weekend lows point out tentative stabilization.
Sentiment associated to institutional buyers corresponding to SBI is prone to verify confidence in Ripple and its broader ecosystem.
The group’s growth into Southeast Asia by means of current acquisitions has additionally raised expectations for elevated real-world adoption, which might help demand for XRP.
ETF inflows and regulatory developments are extra elements influencing sentiment.
Hypothesis concerning a doable Ripple IPO, together with different constructive catalysts, might additional enhance mid- to long-term confidence amongst XRP holders.
Within the quick time period, merchants are specializing in the important thing resistance zone between $1.90 and $2.35.
Nevertheless, continued macroeconomic and geopolitical dangers might undermine near-term optimism.
In a weaker state of affairs, XRP might revisit help round $1.20 and take a look at ranges under $1.00.