[DigitalToday reporter Yoonseo Lee] XRP ranked fourth on Forbes' list of 10 promising cryptocurrencies to invest in for July 2026, behind bitcoin, ethereum and Binance Coin (BNB).

On July 13, blockchain media outlet The Crypto Basic reported that Forbes ranked digital assets with market values of $5 billion or more based on real-world usability, market size, recent price moves and trading activity.

The criteria focused on use cases and long-term investment appeal rather than simple potential for price gains. It also included the view that larger assets tend to be relatively more stable and more likely to attract institutional interest. Based on those criteria, XRP ranked fourth on the back of its role in international remittances, institutional connectivity and a market value of $69.21 billion.

XRP's strengths included fast and low-cost cross-border payments. Forbes assessed that XRP was designed to move value quickly between different currencies and to lower transaction costs. It also noted that Ripple has built partnerships with financial institutions, and that those links have led to practical uses that distinguish XRP from many cryptocurrencies.

Market indicators were also presented as the basis for the ranking. XRP traded at $1.11 as of July 10, with a market value of about $69.21 billion. Forbes viewed XRP as up about 18,761 percent from its launch to its current price. It added that XRP has fallen to around $1.06 from its 12-month all-time high of $3.65 recorded on July 17, 2025.

Its supply structure was presented as a variable investors should also consider. Forbes mentioned that, unlike bitcoin where new supply is released through mining, XRP is distributed into the market through sales of holdings by Ripple. As a result, debate has continued in the market over how much influence Ripple has over token supply.

The issue of ownership concentration was also raised. Forbes noted that Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen (크리스 라슨) still holds a significant amount of XRP. It said investors should consider this ownership concentration alongside the strengths.

A comparison with top-ranked assets was also provided. Bitcoin ranked first with a market value of $1.29 trillion. Forbes assessed bitcoin as "digital gold" and a store of value, but cited as limitations that its Proof-of-Work-based network consumes a lot of energy and processes transactions more slowly than newer blockchains.

Ethereum ranked second with a market value of $216.47 billion. Forbes cited strengths including smart contracts, the decentralised application ecosystem and a large developer community. It said network congestion and high gas fees remain ongoing challenges.

BNB ranked third with a market value of $77.36 billion. Wider use across the Binance ecosystem and regular token burns were cited as strengths, but it also noted that future performance is linked to Binance's results and the regulatory environment surrounding the exchange.

Forbes' list also included Solana, Tron, Hyperliquid, Rayne, Leo and Zcash. Forbes said it also reviewed large projects where it could find a balance between growth potential and relative stability, even as bitcoin and ethereum account for about 68 percent of the overall cryptocurrency market.

The selection shows that XRP was assessed not only on price moves but also on payment use and institutional connectivity. It also highlighted supply structure and ownership concentration, showing that investment criteria for large cryptocurrencies are shifting toward weighing real-world usability together with risk factors.