<\/p>\n
XRP price hovered near $1.47 in Asian trading hours on Monday, Feb.16, 2026, with the cryptocurrency down 8% in the past 24 hours.<\/p>\n
The altcoin\u2019s intraday performance came after comments from SBI Holdings CEO Yoshitaka Kitao, who recently clarified the firm\u2019s investment in Ripple and the token XRP.<\/p>\n
SBI, one of Ripple\u2019s major partners, hit headlines last week amid news of its acquisition of a Singapore-based cryptocurrency exchange.<\/p>\n
But alongside this was the circulation of a rumour claiming that the firm holds $10 billion in XRP tokens.<\/p>\n
This prompted an X post response from SBI CEO Kitao, who clarified that SBI\u2019s actual position is not in XRP, but a 9% stake in Ripple Labs.<\/p>\n
XRP price retreated from highs of $1.60 to around $1.40 amid Kitao\u2019s clarification that the Japanese financial giant\u2019s focus is on Ripple\u2019s blockchain ecosystem.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWhen it comes to Ripple Lab.\u2019s total valuation which obviously includes its ecosystem that Ripple has created, that would be enormous. SBI owns more than 9 % of that much,\u201d he posted<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Ripple (XRP) price outlook<\/h2>\n
XRP\u2019s price action over recent months has largely tracked broader trends in the cryptocurrency market.<\/p>\n
Comments by the chief executive of SBI Holdings briefly unsettled traders, before buyers stepped in to defend levels above $1.40.<\/p>\n
While the token remains under pressure as Bitcoin consolidates below $70,000, the recent move toward $1.60 and a rebound from weekend lows point to tentative stabilisation.<\/p>\n
Sentiment linked to institutional backers such as SBI may support confidence in Ripple and its wider ecosystem.<\/p>\n
The group\u2019s expansion into Southeast Asia through recent acquisitions has also raised expectations of increased real-world adoption, which could support demand for XRP.<\/p>\n
ETF inflows and regulatory developments are additional factors influencing sentiment.<\/p>\n
Speculation around a potential Ripple initial public offering, alongside other positive catalysts, could further lift medium- to long-term confidence among XRP holders.<\/p>\n
In the near term, traders are watching a major resistance zone between $1.90 and $2.35.<\/p>\n
However, persistent macroeconomic and geopolitical risks could undermine short-term optimism.<\/p>\n
In a weaker scenario, XRP may revisit support near $1.20 and potentially test levels below $1.00.<\/p>\n