XRP News Today: Standard Chartered: XRP's ETF-Driven Rise Could Dethrone Ethereum

Standard Chartered predicts XRP may reach $12.50 by 2028, driven by regulatory clarity, institutional adoption, and expanding use cases in cross-border payments and tokenization. The bank's global head of digital assets research, Geoffrey Kendrick, outlined a phased roadmap, projecting XRP at $5.50 in 2025, $8.00 in 2026, and $10.40 in 2027 before stabilizing at $12.50 by 2028. This forecast, which implies a potential 500% rise from current levels, hinges on key catalysts, including the anticipated approval of a U.S. spot XRP ETF by the third quarter of 2025. Kendrick estimates such an ETF could attract $4–8 billion in inflows during its first year, significantly boosting institutional interest and liquidity for the asset Standard Chartered Predicts XRP To Hit $12.50 by 2028 Following …^[1].

The projection aligns with broader market dynamics, including Ripple's resolution of its long-standing legal dispute with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The $50 million settlement, finalized without Ripple admitting wrongdoing, has removed a major regulatory hurdle, enhancing XRP's legitimacy as a utility-driven asset. Kendrick emphasized that the XRP Ledger (XRPL), optimized for low-cost, high-speed transactions, positions it as a viable alternative to traditional payment systems like SWIFT. Additionally, Ripple's expansion into stablecoins (e.g., RLUSD) and tokenization initiatives could further solidify XRP's role in global finance Standard Chartered Predicts XRP To Hit $12.50 by 2028 Following …^[1].

Market cap implications are equally significant. At $12.50, XRP's valuation could surpass $743 billion, overtaking Ethereum's current $573 billion market cap. This would mark a dramatic shift in the crypto hierarchy, with XRP becoming the second-largest non-stablecoin digital asset. However, Ethereum's growth trajectory remains a variable; if ETH reaches $6,500 or higher by 2028, it could retain its lead. Kendrick acknowledged that XRP's low-fee structure and relatively small developer ecosystem may limit its ability to capture value compared to broader-utility blockchains like Ethereum. Nevertheless, he argued that institutional adoption, ETF inflows, and Ripple's global payment integrations could mitigate these challenges Standard Chartered Predicts XRP To Hit $12.50 by 2028 Following …^[1].

The approval timeline for XRP ETFs is critical. Over a dozen applications are pending with the SEC, including those from Grayscale, Bitwise, and WisdomTree, with final decisions expected between October 2025 and December 2025. Analysts estimate that ETF approvals could unlock billions in institutional capital, potentially reshaping XRP's liquidity and price dynamics. Historical precedents, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF launches, suggest that such products often trigger short-term price corrections as investors "sell the news," but long-term gains may follow as adoption accelerates .

Broader macroeconomic trends also influence the outlook. Standard Chartered's forecast includes a Bitcoin price target of $500,000 by 2029, reflecting continued optimism in the crypto market's expansion. In such an environment, XRP's performance could benefit from increased market participation and capital flows toward altcoins. However, competition from stablecoins, CBDCs, and other blockchain projects in the cross-border payments space remains a risk. Despite these challenges, Kendrick's analysis underscores XRP's unique positioning as a payments-focused asset with clear utility and regulatory progress Standard Chartered Predicts XRP To Hit $12.50 by 2028 Following …^[1].

The press release highlights the interplay between regulatory developments, market demand, and technological adoption in driving XRP's trajectory. While the $12.50 target appears ambitious, it is grounded in tangible factors, including ETF approvals, institutional interest, and Ripple's strategic initiatives. Investors are advised to monitor the SEC's decisions on XRP ETFs, as well as macroeconomic indicators, to assess the asset's potential. The prediction also raises questions about the broader crypto ecosystem's evolution, particularly as Ethereum faces scalability hurdles and XRP's niche utility gains traction Standard Chartered Predicts XRP To Hit $12.50 by 2028 Following …^[1].