TLDR
- Standard Chartered predicts XRP could reach $5.50 by end of 2025 and $12.50 by 2028, representing a 500% increase
- XRP has fallen to around $1.77 after nearly matching its all-time high of $3.40 in January 2025
- Teucrium introduced the first XRP-based ETF in the US, with the XXRP ETF posting over $5 million in volume on day one
- Trump’s tariff policies have contributed to recent crypto market volatility
- Technical indicators show bearish signals, with some analysts predicting a drop to $1.30-$1.40 range
The cryptocurrency market has experienced significant turbulence this week, with many tokens seeing double-digit drops. Despite this downturn, XRP 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.
XRP currently trades at around $1.77, down from nearly matching its all-time high of $3.40 in January 2025. The token had been stuck between $0.50-$0.60 for most of 2024 before Donald Trump’s election victory in November triggered a rally that sent the price soaring.
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 – a 500% increase from current levels.
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.
Standard Charter is back to making super-bullish crypto-related predictions, says XRP will hit $5.50 by EOY and $12.50 in 3yrs. Curr it's $1.94. Nature is healing.. pic.twitter.com/vKmQ5B8tbe
— Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) April 8, 2025
XRP’s Recent Market Performance
This week’s crypto sell-off, dubbed “Black Monday” by some analysts, saw XRP drop below the $2.00 mark. The token is currently down 7.4% in the past 24 hours, with its market capitalization shrinking by nearly $18 billion in just one week.
Technical indicators present a mixed picture. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) has touched 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.
Some analysts on social media platform X have pointed to potential bullish signals. JAVON MARKS recently suggested that XRP’s MACD indicator is nearing “a breaking point,” potentially signaling a return to the $3.30+ range.
$XRP's MACD is nearing a BREAKING POINT and also holding a key Regular Bullish Divergence with prices!
This divergence suggests that bulls can return with DOMINANCE and shift prices into continuing recent major uptrend back towards $3.30+.
XRP can have MORE IN THE TANK! pic.twitter.com/Y4kfA43Vk7
— JAVON⚡️MARKS (@JavonTM1) April 8, 2025
However, other analysts like Ali Martinez predict further decline, suggesting XRP could drop to the $1.30-$1.40 range before finding strong support.
New ETF Launch and Regulatory Environment
Tuesday saw the launch of the XXRP ETF on the NYSE Arca, the first XRP-based exchange-traded fund in the United States. This 2x leveraged product is designed to capitalize on XRP’s volatility.
The ETF recorded over $5 million in volume on its first day of trading. While 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.
Several 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.
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.
Market Factors Affecting Price
President Trump’s tariff policies have contributed to recent market volatility. The President insisted on Tuesday that tariffs imposed on April 2 will 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 the potential approval of XRP exchange-traded funds during Trump’s presidency will serve as a major catalyst for price growth. The bank even suggests 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.
