For a market that usually moves in one direction, some voices are starting to say this time might look a little different. Canary Capital CEO Steven McClurg said XRP could move on a different path from Bitcoin this year, pointing to enterprise use cases as a key reason.
He made the remarks during a podcast with host Paul Barron, and outlined a cautious view of Bitcoin while singling out protocols tied to real-world tokenization.
According to McClurg, the shift in focus toward practical applications may help a small set of tokens behave differently than the wider market.
XRP And Hedera Seen As Practical Picks
McClurg named the XRP Ledger and Hedera as examples of networks that could benefit from enterprise adoption and tokenization efforts.
He argued that platforms with clear utility — like payment rails, tokenized assets, or stablecoin infrastructure — have a better chance of holding value when speculative momentum fades.
Reports have disclosed that he does not expect these assets to race higher; instead, modest gains are the likeliest outcome, with growth described as low double-digit rather than explosive.
Bitcoin Faces Additional Downside
McClurg turned more negative on Bitcoin. He said he believes Bitcoin peaked on October 6, 2025, at $126,200. Since that date Bitcoin has slipped roughly 35% to about $95,800.
He warned that prices could fall another 20–30% over the next six to nine months, which would place BTC roughly between $65,000 and $77,000 before the end of the cycle.
Based on his view, a new all-time high is not expected in 2026 and the market may be entering a deeper correction.
Markets Could Still Move Together
Critics point out that altcoins often suffer greater losses when the market experiences a downturn, and history supports that caution.
Liquidity tends to dry up during big Bitcoin sell-offs, and even assets with real use cases can be pushed lower in a broad risk-off episode.
In layman’s phrasing, XRP might fall less than Bitcoin and therefore look stronger in comparison, but outright independence from Bitcoin is rare and usually temporary.
Relative Outperformance The More Likely Outcome
According to McClurg’s perspective, what is most realistic is relative outperformance rather than complete separation. That means XRP and similar tokens could remain flat or show modest positive returns while Bitcoin weakens.
Such a pattern would still be notable for holders and for enterprises planning tokenization projects, but it falls short of a dramatic price surge.
Featured image from Bitpanda Blog, chart from TradingView
