Ripple (XRP) is back in the spotlight with a series of legal victories and technological advancements driving investor optimism. Standard Chartered, a major British multinational bank, has issued a bold forecast predicting XRP could reach $12.50 by the end of 2028, marking a significant milestone in the cryptocurrency’s journey.
Key Developments and Ripple Growth Outlook
Geoffrey Kendrick, the Global Head of Digital Assets Research at Standard Chartered, has outlined a highly ambitious price trajectory for XRP. His forecast suggests the cryptocurrency will hit $5.50 by 2024, rise to $8 by 2026, and ultimately achieve $12.50 by 2028. This represents a 500% increase from its current value, reflecting strong growth potential in the coming years.
Kendrick further predicts that XRP could surpass Ethereum in market capitalization by late 2028, positioning it as the second-largest cryptocurrency. This projection follows a period of recovery for Ripple’s digital asset, which has faced numerous legal and market challenges in recent years.
XRP ETF Launch and Market Response
The bullish forecast comes after the recent launch of the first-ever XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the United States. However, the structure of this ETF is unique—it does not provide direct exposure to Ripple (XRP) itself. Instead, it uses swaps to replicate the cryptocurrency’s performance, offering a new way for investors to engage with the asset without actually holding it.
Despite the ETF’s debut, XRP experienced a slight decline in value, dropping by 7.82% over the last 24 hours. The cryptocurrency, currently ranked fourth in market capitalization, has not yet seen a substantial market response to the news. Ripple token’s inherent volatility continues to captivate the attention of traders and investors, but its future remains uncertain in the short term.
Real-World Use Cases Driving XRP’s Growth
Standard Chartered maintains a positive outlook for XRP, emphasizing its real-world utility, especially in cross-border payments. XRP’s functionality as a fast and low-cost solution for international transactions aligns with broader trends in digital asset adoption. Financial institutions worldwide are increasingly using Ripple to improve the efficiency of their remittance services.
The bank also notes the growing popularity of stablecoins, which have seen a 50% annual increase in transaction volume and are expected to grow tenfold over the next four years. Kendrick believes XRP’s role in cross-border payments positions it well for future success, as digital asset usage continues to rise.
Legal Developments and Market Confidence
Ripple’s recent legal victories have also bolstered investor confidence in XRP. Most notably, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) dropped its appeal in the long-standing case against Ripple Labs, clearing a major cloud of uncertainty that had previously weighed on the cryptocurrency’s price. This decision has been seen as a significant victory for Ripple, further improving the outlook for XRP.
Projections for XRP Spot ETFs and Future Market Potential
Looking ahead, Kendrick forecasts that the SEC will approve spot XRP ETFs by the third quarter of 2025. Such approval could lead to inflows of $4 to $8 billion within the first year, mirroring the market penetration of Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. This could mark a pivotal moment for Ripple, providing a major boost to its market value and attracting more institutional investors.
XRP’s potential as a “tokenization chain” also fuels optimism. Kendrick compares the XRP Ledger (XRPL) to Stellar, another blockchain known for its tokenization capabilities. He believes that XRP, much like Stellar, has the potential to dominate the tokenization space, supporting various financial products and services on its network.
Overcoming Challenges for Long-Term Growth
While Kendrick is bullish on XRP’s future, he acknowledges the project’s challenges. The XRP network has a smaller developer ecosystem than some of its larger competitors, and its low-fee model may limit the development of high-value applications. However, Kendrick believes the positive drivers, such as real-world use cases, legal clarity, and increasing adoption, will outweigh these hurdles.
Looking Toward the Future
Despite current challenges, XRP’s future looks increasingly promising. With ongoing legal victories, new product launches like the XRP ETF, and rising use cases in global finance, Standard Chartered’s forecast suggests XRP is on the cusp of a massive breakout. If these predictions hold true, Ripple (XRP)could experience unprecedented growth in the coming years, establishing itself as a dominant player in the digital asset space.
Month | Min. Price | Avg. Price | Max. Price | Potential ROI |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mar 2025 | $ 2.13 | $ 3.26 | $ 4.55 |
154.55%
|
Apr 2025 | $ 2.62 | $ 3.64 | $ 4.26 |
138.08%
|
May 2025 | $ 2.19 | $ 2.65 | $ 3.05 |
70.62%
|
Jun 2025 | $ 2.09 | $ 2.27 | $ 2.40 |
34.20%
|
Jul 2025 | $ 2.43 | $ 2.97 | $ 3.53 |
97.70%
|
Aug 2025 | $ 2.84 | $ 3.16 | $ 3.65 |
104.12%
|
Sep 2025 | $ 2.85 | $ 3.14 | $ 3.32 |
85.85%
|
Oct 2025 | $ 2.87 | $ 3.21 | $ 3.49 |
95.46%
|
Nov 2025 | $ 2.60 | $ 2.75 | $ 2.99 |
67.30%
|
Dec 2025 | $ 2.67 | $ 2.68 | $ 2.68 |
50.14%
|
Conclusion
XRP’s potential for growth is substantial, with ambitious price targets set for the years ahead. Standard Chartered’s bold projection of $12.50 by 2028 reflects growing confidence in Ripple’s technology and its ability to overcome past challenges. If the cryptocurrency can maintain its momentum, it may be poised for a historic run, with investors and market watchers closely monitoring the unfolding developments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1- What is XRP’s projected value by 2028?
XRP is forecasted to reach $12.50 by 2028, marking a 500% increase in value.
2- What is the unique feature of the new XRP ETF?
The XRP ETF uses swaps to replicate XRP’s performance rather than offering direct exposure.
3- How does XRP’s real-world use impact its growth?
XRP’s adoption for cross-border payments is driving its growth as a low-cost and efficient solution.
4- What legal victory has boosted XRP’s market outlook?
The SEC dropped its appeal against Ripple Labs, clearing a major legal hurdle for XRP.
Appendix Glossary of Key Terms
XRP – Ripple’s native cryptocurrency, designed for fast and low-cost cross-border payments.
ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund) – A financial product that tracks an asset’s price, allowing indirect investment without owning the asset.
Tokenization – The process of converting real-world assets into digital tokens on a blockchain.
Spot ETF – An ETF that directly tracks the price of an asset, like XRP, without using derivatives or swaps.
Cross-Border Payments – Transactions made between parties in different countries, often facilitated by digital currencies like XRP.
SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) – A U.S. government agency responsible for regulating financial markets and protecting investors.
Swaps – Financial derivatives where two parties exchange future cash flows based on asset performance, such as XRP’s price.
References
Decrypt – decrypt.com
Cryptobriefing – cryptobriefing.com
Benzinga – benzinga.com
CoinMarketCap – coinmarketcap.com