AI Price Prediction: We Asked Grok AI Which Recovers First From the October Selloff: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP or Solana
A brutal October selloff wiped out nearly $1 billion in leveraged crypto positions, and Grok AI has a definitive ranking for which of the four biggest coins claws its way back first and which one faces the steepest road to…
This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.
In mid-October 2026, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC), Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH), XRP (CRYPTO: XRP), and Solana (CRYPTO: SOL) all fell sharply, leaving investors wondering which cryptocurrency will recover first. A wave of forced selling liquidated nearly $1 billion in leveraged positions. Liquidation occurs when an exchange automatically closes a trade funded by borrowed money because the price has moved too far against it.
As of October 15, Bitcoin is trading at $81,052, down 2.8% over the past 24 hours. Ethereum has dropped 5.5% to $2,365, XRP is down 4.6% to $1.31, and Solana is down 4.4% to $102. Over the previous week, Bitcoin fluctuated between a high of $84,262 on October 12 and a low of $80,927 on October 13.
Grok, the AI model developed by xAI, ranks Bitcoin as the most likely to reclaim its October 13 price first, followed by Solana and XRP, with Ethereum expected to lag. So, what factors led Grok to this conclusion, and what does it foresee for these cryptocurrencies by year-end?
Grok AI Ranks Bitcoin First to Recover and Ethereum Last
Grok predicts that Bitcoin will bounce back first, potentially by October 25. This is attributed to Bitcoin’s greater liquidity, which allows large transactions without severely impacting price, and its historical appeal to institutional investors.
Solana is expected to follow closely, recovering by November 5, provided that its upcoming network upgrade proceeds without issues. Grok cites Solana’s imminent upgrade as a unique short-term catalyst. XRP is anticipated to recover by mid-November, bolstered by a modest inflow of $740,414 on October 14, making it the only major cryptocurrency to experience inflows that day. However, Grok notes that XRP’s lower liquidity and lack of scheduled events weigh against its ranking.
Ethereum is expected to be the last to recover, around November 20, because it needs a bigger price bounce. Grok highlights the trend of funds moving out of Ethereum and notes that its largest corporate investor is nearing a threshold at which buying may stop.
How Far Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP and Solana Must Climb to Recover
The closing prices from October 13 were as follows: Bitcoin at $83,102, Ethereum at $2,496, XRP at $1.37, and Solana at $107. Based on the October 15 prices, Bitcoin needs to gain 2.5% to return to its previous close; XRP requires a 4.2% increase, Solana a 4.3% rise, and Ethereum a 5.5% jump.
Grok’s analysis indicates slightly different percentages, estimating Bitcoin’s gap at about 3.4%, both Solana’s and XRP’s at 3.8%, and Ethereum’s at 6.1%. Still, Bitcoin has the smallest climb ahead, while Ethereum faces the biggest challenge. The margins for XRP and Solana are close, so Grok ranks Solana second based on its upcoming upgrade rather than a smaller gap.
Why Grok Sees the Most Downside in Solana Despite Its Upgrade
Interestingly, Grok believes Solana also has the most downside risk, potentially dropping another 15% to around $88. This assessment is based on Solana’s steep price decline so far and the fact that Solana funds have recorded outflows on nine out of ten days in October. Additionally, Grok argues that volatile cryptocurrencies often keep falling longer when selloffs and economic uncertainty pressure them.
Solana’s anticipated upgrade is scheduled for October 21 and aims to improve transaction finality to about 150 milliseconds—the time it takes for a transaction to become permanent. If all goes well, Grok expects this upgrade could help Solana recover by about 12% over the following month, pushing prices toward the mid-$110s.
Thus, while Grok ranks Solana second in potential recovery, it also identifies it as the one with the most downside risk. The recovery prediction relies heavily on the upgrade, and further declines are tied to its volatility and continued fund outflows.
Grok AI’s Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP and Solana Price Predictions for Year-End
| Coin | Price Range | Most Likely | Grok’s Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin | $92,000 to $108,000 | $100,000 | Anticipating partial recovery as fund flows stabilize |
| Ethereum | $2,800 to $3,600 | $3,200 | Some corporate buying will continue, but hindered by fund outflows |
| XRP | $1.45 to $1.85 | $1.65 | Fund flows remain steady compared to peers, but limited by its high distance from previous peaks |
| Solana | $115 to $155 | $135 | Includes a price boost following the upgrade |
Grok’s year-end price estimates align with its recovery predictions. Bitcoin leads with a 62% chance of closing above its current price on December 31, followed by Solana at 55%, XRP at 51%, and Ethereum at 48%, the only one below 50%.
Which Crypto Recovers First, According to Grok AI?
Grok’s conclusion is clear: Bitcoin is expected to recover first because of its shorter climb, deeper liquidity, and a robust foundation supported by institutions. If you were to allocate a hypothetical $4,000 among these cryptocurrencies, Grok suggests putting $2,000 into Bitcoin, $800 into Solana, $700 into XRP, and $500 into Ethereum. However, this allocation is based on Grok’s analysis and should not be taken as financial advice from 24/7 Wall St.
Grok’s forecast hinges on Bitcoin closing above $83,102 by October 25. If Solana’s upgrade faces issues, the analysis suggests that its recovery could become questionable, pushing it down to around $88 instead of a second-place recovery.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Sam Daodu is a crypto analyst who's spent nearly a decade making blockchain understandable—no easy task when most whitepapers read like fever dreams. He writes for 24/7 Wall St., covering Bitcoin, altcoins, and crypto market analysis for investors. Before crypto, he was a tech writer (back when explaining "the cloud" was peak innovation). Since 2018, he's written for CoinTelegraph, Yahoo Finance, The Block, Cryptonews, Zypto, Rain, and more—basically anywhere people want crypto news without the headache. Sam runs MacLabs Marketing, a content agency for crypto brands tired of sounding like AI wrote their website. He also publishes free crypto education on his site for Web3 enthusiasts who think "gas fees" is a typo. When he's not writing or staring at charts, Sam's either: - Watching anime (currently convinced One Piece has better tokenomics than most altcoins) - At the gym sculpting himself into a Greek god - Listening to the music your mum warned you only bad boys listen to Connect: LinkedIn | Email | MacLabs Marketing
