Bitcoin and Ethereum Slip While XRP Ranks Fourth in Brand Affinity

▲ XRP (XRP) / ChatGPT-generated image

XRP has surpassed market capitalization giants Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) to rank fourth among crypto asset brands with the strongest emotional connection to users, demonstrating overwhelming community cohesion.

According to crypto media outlet The Crypto Basic on February 17 (local time), XRP ranked fourth overall in the cryptocurrency sector in the 2026 Brand Intimacy Report released by global brand agency MBLM. Brand intimacy measures the depth of emotional connection and trust users feel toward a specific brand. In this survey, XRP outperformed both Bitcoin and Ethereum, delivering a surprising result. Ripple is evaluated as having formed a distinctive brand value that goes beyond a simple investment asset by combining a strong fandom with practical utility.

In the survey, Cardano (ADA) ranked first in brand intimacy within the crypto sector, followed by Polkadot (DOT) and Solana (SOL). XRP placed fourth, suggesting that it has a stronger emotional bond with users than industry leaders Bitcoin and Ethereum. Notably, Ripple has steadily strengthened brand loyalty based on the strong support of its community, the so-called “XRP Army,” even amid years of ongoing legal disputes.

MBLM explained that brand intimacy is formed through stages in which users engage with a brand: sharing, bonding, and fusion. The results showed that XRP users tend to deeply resonate with the project’s vision and technological achievements and identify themselves with the asset more prominently than users of other cryptocurrencies. By presenting a clear use case of cross-border payment innovation, Ripple has solidified its brand identity by providing users with both practical utility and a sense of pride.

Market experts analyzed that the success of a cryptocurrency depends not only on technological capability or price volatility but also heavily on emotional factors such as brand intimacy. XRP securing a higher level of intimacy than Bitcoin and Ethereum is expected to serve as a strong defensive mechanism to retain long-term holders and attract new users. Ripple has successfully combined expanding partnerships with traditional financial institutions to build mainstream trust with community-centered emotional marketing.

The brand intimacy demonstrated by XRP is likely to serve as a key driving force in defending against price declines and sustaining its ecosystem even amid increasing market volatility. This ranking is a significant indicator that Ripple has evolved beyond technical excellence into a mature brand deeply embedded in users’ lives and values. Leveraging strong brand loyalty, the Ripple ecosystem plans to secure leadership in the cryptocurrency market and present a new industry standard centered on practical use cases.

Disclaimer: This article is for investment reference only, and no responsibility is taken for investment losses based on it. The content should be interpreted for informational purposes only.