The cryptocurrency market has been experiencing significant turbulence this week, with many tokens witnessing double-digit drops. Amid this downturn, XRP, the digital asset developed by Ripple, has captured attention following a bold prediction from banking giant Standard Chartered. The institution forecasts that Ripple’s native token could see a dramatic price increase in the coming years, potentially reaching $5.50 by the end of 2025 and $12.50 by 2028, representing a staggering 500% increase from current levels.
Currently trading at around $1.77, XRP has fallen from its near all-time high of $3.40 in January 2025. The token had been stuck between $0.50 and $0.60 for most of 2024 before Donald Trump’s election victory in November triggered a rally that sent the price soaring. However, recent volatility has seen XRP drop below the $2.00 mark, down 7.4% in the past 24 hours, with its market capitalization shrinking by nearly $18 billion in just one week.
Geoffrey Kendrick, who leads digital asset research at Standard Chartered, projects XRP to reach $5.50 by the end of this year. The bank further predicts the price could climb to $8 in 2026, $10.40 in 2027, and finally $12.50 by 2028. Kendrick's bullish outlook reflects a growing confidence in the cryptocurrency market, especially after Bloomberg senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas shared the forecast, joking that “Nature is healing,” referring to the return of confident predictions in the crypto world after recent market turmoil.
Despite the optimistic outlook for XRP, the current market conditions have been challenging. This week’s crypto sell-off, dubbed “Black Monday” by some analysts, has seen XRP's market cap drop significantly. Technical indicators present a mixed picture, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) touching oversold territory, suggesting traders are in risk-off mode. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator also shows negative sentiment, extending below the mean line. While some analysts, like JAVON MARKS, suggest potential bullish signals, others predict further decline, with estimates suggesting XRP could drop to the $1.30-$1.40 range before finding strong support.
On April 8, 2025, Teucrium introduced the first XRP-based exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the United States, the XXRP ETF, which posted over $5 million in volume on its first day of trading. Although this falls short of the records set by Bitcoin ETFs, it places XXRP in the top 5% of new ETF launches and outperformed the 2x Solana ETF by four times. Major asset managers, including Grayscale, Bitwise, 21Shares, and Franklin Templeton, are also racing to roll out spot XRP ETFs, which would directly hold the cryptocurrency.
Crypto lawyer John Deaton noted that despite negative sentiment around XRP, the token received overwhelming support from 75,000 holders who petitioned the court during Ripple’s lawsuit against the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The improved legal standing for XRP, following the SEC dropping its appeal in the long-running lawsuit against Ripple, has removed a major regulatory threat that had hindered the token’s growth potential. Kendrick believes the potential approval of XRP exchange-traded funds during Trump’s presidency will serve as a major catalyst for price growth.
However, market factors are also affecting XRP's price. President Trump’s tariff policies have contributed to recent market volatility. On April 8, Trump insisted that tariffs imposed on April 2 would start as planned, despite calls for a 90-day suspension to allow for negotiations. This macroeconomic uncertainty has created a risk-off sentiment across cryptocurrency markets, affecting major tokens including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and leading altcoins like XRP.
Standard Chartered believes that XRP could eventually surpass Ethereum in total market value, becoming the second-largest cryptocurrency after Bitcoin. XRP continues to be used by banks and payment providers globally for cross-border money transfers, giving the token utility beyond speculation. This real-world application provides fundamental support for its valuation. For investors considering XRP, the current market conditions present both risks and opportunities. With the RSI nearing oversold conditions, a quick rebound remains possible. Some traders may use dollar-cost averaging strategies to manage risk while positioning for potential recovery above the $2 mark.
In summary, Standard Chartered's optimistic predictions for XRP, alongside the recent launch of the XXRP ETF and improved regulatory clarity, have positioned the token as a focal point in the crypto market. As the cryptocurrency landscape continues to evolve amidst macroeconomic challenges, XRP's potential for growth remains a topic of keen interest among investors and analysts alike.
