Standard Chartered Predicts 200% Surge for XRP by 2025

XRP, the native token of the XRP Ledger and the fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market value, has the potential to surge by approximately 200% from its current level by the end of the year, according to Standard Chartered. The bank initiated coverage of the asset, with digital assets researcher Geoff Kendrick predicting that XRP could reach $5.50 per token by the end of 2025. XRP is a decentralized open-source blockchain created by the founders of Ripple Labs, a fintech company focused on facilitating cross-border and cross-currency payments.

Kendrick highlighted that XRP is uniquely positioned to benefit from the growing use of digital assets for cross-border payments. He noted that the price gains of XRP could keep pace with Bitcoin in real terms. Additionally, Kendrick suggested that XRP could potentially hit $12.50 before the end of the current administration.

Ripple Labs, the company behind XRP, has faced significant regulatory challenges, particularly under the Biden Administration from 2020 to 2024. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), led by former Chair Gary Gensler, pursued legal action against Ripple, alleging that the company had sold unregistered securities in the form of XRP. However, a federal district judge ruled in 2023 that programmatic sales of XRP to retail investors did not qualify as securities, a decision largely seen as a victory for the crypto community.

Ripple has since aligned itself with the Trump Administration, hoping for more favorable regulatory conditions under the new leadership. The company is optimistic about the potential approval of XRP-related exchange-traded funds (ETFs) under the SEC's new crypto-friendly policies. XRP reached an all-time high of $3.40 in 2018 and came close to that level again in January, briefly touching $3.38 ahead of President Trump’s inauguration.

In a significant move, Ripple announced the acquisition of crypto-friendly prime brokerage Hidden Road for $1.25 billion, marking one of the largest deals in the crypto industry's history. This acquisition is seen as a strategic step to enhance Ripple's capabilities in the crypto market and further solidify its position as a leader in cross-border payments.