The projection, made by Geoffrey Kendrick, the bank’s Global Head of Digital Assets Research, envisions a steady climb that begins with a potential rise to $5.50 by the end of 2025, followed by incremental targets of $8 in 2026, $10.40 in 2027, and finally $12.50 within the next three years.

Standard Chartered is back with bold crypto predictions, forecasting XRP to hit $5.50 by year-end and soar to $12.50 by 2028 from its current $1.94. Source: Eric Balchunas via X

This trajectory implies more than a 500% increase from the current XRP price, which hovers around the $1.90 level. If the forecast plays out, XRP would not only regain its former highs but also position itself as a direct challenger to Ethereum in terms of market capitalization, potentially becoming the second-largest cryptocurrency behind Bitcoin.

Legal Clarity Strengthens Outlook

One of the key reasons behind this bullish XRP price prediction is growing legal clarity. The long-running XRP lawsuit between Ripple Labs and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) appears to be nearing resolution. In recent months, the SEC dropped its appeal regarding programmatic sales of XRP, which had weighed on investor sentiment.

Despite tariff turmoil, crypto holds firm—XRP’s quiet accumulation sparks speculation of a breakout spring. Source: Dejavu787 on TradingView

Although the SEC has continued to file motions—most recently opposing a third-party evidence request—it is widely seen that Ripple is now operating with greater legal freedom. These developments have significantly lifted investor confidence and reduced the regulatory uncertainty that has plagued XRP since the case began in 2020.

According to Kendrick, “regulatory clarity is one of the three main drivers” supporting XRP’s projected growth. The other two are institutional access and Ripple’s expansion into tokenized finance.

XRP ETF Sparks Institutional Interest

The recent launch of the first U.S.-based XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) has drawn significant attention, even though it does not provide direct exposure to the asset. The ETF is structured using swaps that replicate XRP’s price movements. While this innovative format has yet to trigger a price rally—XRP dropped around 4% after the announcement—it signals growing institutional recognition of XRP’s role in the broader crypto landscape.

A list of companies filed for a spot XRP ETF approval from the SEC. Source: John Squire via X

Kendrick anticipates that a spot XRP ETF could be approved by the SEC by Q3 2025, which may unlock $4 to $8 billion in institutional capital. Such inflows could dramatically increase XRP’s liquidity and push it closer to its projected price targets.

Real-World Utility and Ripple’s Expansion

Beyond legal and institutional catalysts, Ripple’s expanding ecosystem continues to bolster XRP’s long-term case. The Ripple ledger is increasingly being utilized to tokenize traditional financial assets like funds in U.S. Treasury bonds, and Ripple’s stablecoin project, RLUSD ($1.00), shows its ambition to construct a full financial infrastructure layer.

XRP and RLUSD are poised to disrupt traditional finance as Ripple builds the backbone of a utility-driven financial system. Source: John Squire via X

Ripple has also evolved in cross-border remittance, where institutions and banks in different corners of the world have adopted XRP to enable faster and cheaper overseas transactions. All such uses reflect Ripple’s commitment to solving real-world financial problems, which differentiates it from speculative cryptos.

Crypto commentator Moon Lambo had this to say of the forecast, “It’s crazy in a good way.”. The XRP community has believed in this potential for over a decade. Now the world is finally catching on.”

Short-Term Price Outlook: Key Levels and Challenges

Despite the long-term optimism, XRP is confronted with short-term technical hurdles. Analysts such as EGRAG Crypto have identified four main resistance levels—$2.24, $2.30, $2.47, and $2.70—that the Ripple crypto has to overcome in order to break out towards the $5 level.

XRP may see limited upside this year, but a final rally toward the $4–$5 range is still possible as the last wave of the impulse unfolds. Source: EW-forecast on TradingView

Current market uncertainty, instigated in part by President Trump’s proposed tariffs and general risk aversion, has weighed on the Ripple currency price. XRP declined by close to 5.5% on April 8, in line with wider crypto market falls. But analysts are cautiously optimistic. According to XForceGlobal, XRP’s stability above $2.00 in a volatile market is “rare and significant.”

In the short term, XRP’s ability to hold above the $1.75–$1.85 support range and reclaim $1.90–$1.95 will be critical in defining its next move.

Can XRP Hit $12.50?

While Standard Chartered’s $12.50 price target may seem ambitious, it is grounded in evolving market dynamics and tangible developments in Ripple’s business model. Legal clarity, institutional products like ETFs, and real-world financial integration all set the stage for potential growth.

Ripple (XRP) was trading at around $1.82, down 3.04% in the last 24 hours at press time. Source: XRP Liquid Index (XRPLX) via Brave New Coin

If Kendrick’s prediction materializes, the market cap of XRP will exceed $1 trillion, making it directly comparable to Ethereum. As Ripple solidifies relationships—such as with Bank of America and other institutions—its Ripple market could be entering an era of renewed relevance and impact.

Ultimately, whether XRP delivers on these projections will depend on a mix of regulatory decisions, institutional interest, technical performance, and Ripple’s continued innovation. For now, the pieces are aligning for what could be a defining chapter in Ripple XRP news.