Bitcoin, Solana or XRP? The best performing crypto asset of 2026 so far

Bitcoin, Solana and XRP have outperformed in 2026 despite an earlier correction, supported by institutional inflows, stronger on-chain activity and improving regulation. US spot Bitcoin ETFs, launched in early 2024, continued to hold around $100 billion in assets, with BlackRock's IBIT leading at tens of billions in AUM even after the largest single monthly ETF outflow in May 2026. The SEC case against XRP was resolved in 2025, clearing a regulatory overhang, while Solana's weekly DEX volumes exceeded Ethereum's at certain points at a fraction of the transaction cost.