XRP has one of the most eventful price histories in the cryptocurrency space. From its early days trading at fractions of a cent in 2013 to surging past $3 in late 2017, crashing in 2018, navigating years of regulatory uncertainty, and ultimately reaching a new all-time high of $3.84 in January 2018, XRP's price history reflects both the volatile nature of crypto markets and the unique challenges faced by Ripple as a company.
XRP Price in 2013–2016: Early Years
XRP was created in 2012 when the XRP Ledger went live. In the early years, XRP traded at extremely low prices — less than $0.01 — as the market for cryptocurrencies was still nascent. The token saw its first significant price surge in 2013, briefly reaching $0.06 before pulling back. Through 2014, 2015, and 2016, XRP traded mostly between $0.005 and $0.02, accumulating a small but loyal community of supporters who believed in Ripple's vision for transforming cross-border payments.
XRP All-Time High: 2018
XRP's all-time high was reached on January 4, 2018, when the token briefly traded at $3.84 on major exchanges. This peak came during the historic cryptocurrency bull market of late 2017 and early 2018, when virtually every digital asset reached record valuations. At its peak, XRP had a market capitalization exceeding $140 billion USD, making it briefly the second-largest cryptocurrency in the world by market cap. The all-time high was followed by a severe bear market that pushed XRP back below $0.30 by the end of 2018.
XRP and the SEC Lawsuit (2020–2023)
In December 2020, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against Ripple Labs and two of its executives, alleging that XRP had been sold as an unregistered security. This triggered a major price decline and caused several US cryptocurrency exchanges, including Coinbase, to delist XRP from trading. Despite this setback, XRP continued to trade on international exchanges and maintained its community of supporters. In 2023, a federal judge ruled that XRP sold on public exchanges did not constitute a security, providing major relief for Ripple and contributing to a significant price recovery.
XRP Price Recovery and New Highs (2024–2026)
Following the SEC case resolution and broader market improvements, XRP experienced a strong recovery. The approval of spot XRP ETFs in late 2025 by major asset managers including Bitwise, Grayscale, 21Shares, Canary Capital, and Franklin Templeton brought substantial institutional capital into the XRP market. By mid-2025, XRP had surpassed its 2018 all-time high, reaching $3.66. In 2026, XRP trades above $1.40 following a broader market pullback, with analysts watching closely for the next major move.
