YoungHoon Kim, a figure claiming to hold the world's highest recorded IQ, stated XRP could overtake Ethereum's market capitalization by 2026. The prediction, shared on social media platform X, marks a significant shift in Kim's public commentary from Bitcoin-focused analysis to aggressive XRP accumulation.
According to MarketCapOf data, XRP would need to reach $5.64 to match Ethereum's current market cap, representing a new all-time high for the token.
What Happened: Market Cap Projection
Kim directly compared the two assets in his post, establishing 2026 as the target date for XRP to surpass ETH in valuation. The claim was presented as personal opinion rather than financial advice but gained traction due to Kim's growing visibility in crypto discussions.
MarketCapOf analysis shows the flip would require sustained capital reallocation across the broader market. Institutional adoption expansion could compress the valuation gap over time, though the scenario remains speculative.
Kim's recent statements represent a dramatic pivot from weeks of near-exclusive Bitcoin commentary.
On Dec. 12, he announced he would only purchase XRP going forward.
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Why It Matters: Institutional Adoption
Kim, who publicly claims an IQ of 276, previously suggested XRP has strong potential to reach new all-time highs before year-end.
In a separate post, he projected the token could hit $100 within five years—a valuation requiring deep institutional adoption and central positioning in large-scale financial infrastructure.
Critics view both predictions as overly optimistic.
An X user known as BD, who identifies as the world's most bullish XRP holder, cautioned Kim about his claims. "If you are wrong, you will be the guy with the lowest IQ," BD wrote.
The 2026 timeframe gives investors a clear benchmark for measuring whether XRP can meaningfully challenge Ethereum's altcoin dominance. Some prominent XRP analysts question whether the market cap flip scenario is realistic.
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