Is XRP a Buy Under $10 Amid Regulatory Clarity and Growing Institutional Adoption?

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital assets, XRP has emerged as a focal point of both regulatory scrutiny and institutional innovation. As of July 2025, the token is trading near $3.45, a far cry from its all-time high of $3.84 in 2017 but poised for a potential breakout. The convergence of a near-final resolution in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) lawsuit, a surge in institutional partnerships, and robust on-chain metrics has reignited debate: Is XRP a compelling buy under $10?

Regulatory Clarity: A Game Changer

The four-year legal battle between Ripple and the SEC has reached a critical inflection point. The August 2024 ruling by Judge Analisa Torres, which deemed retail XRP sales non-securities while labeling institutional sales as such, provided a nuanced framework for XRP's classification. The $50 million settlement, coupled with both parties dropping appeals, has all but eliminated regulatory uncertainty.

The passage of the GENIUS and CLARITY Acts in the U.S. House of Representatives further solidified this clarity. These laws not only differentiate digital assets from securities but also mandate stablecoin transparency, directly benefiting Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin. With the ProShares Ultra XRP ETF (UXRP) approved on July 18, 2025, institutional and retail investors now have a regulated vehicle to access XRP, a development that mirrors the Bitcoin ETF frenzy of late 2023.

Strategic Partnerships: Building a Global Infrastructure

Ripple's strategic partnerships in 2025 have transformed XRP from a speculative token into a utility-driven asset. The company's On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) service, which uses XRP to facilitate instant cross-border payments, is now adopted by over 150 financial institutions, including Santander, Bank of America, Standard Chartered, and SBI Holdings. These partnerships are not just symbolic—they address real-world inefficiencies in remittances, where XRP's near-instant settlement times and low fees outperform traditional systems like SWIFT.

A pivotal move was Ripple's $1.25 billion acquisition of Hidden Road, a UK-based prime broker. This acquisition enables Ripple to offer institutional-grade services such as trading, custody, and lending, bridging blockchain and traditional finance. Hidden Road's migration of post-trade operations to the XRP Ledger (XRPL) and its use of RLUSD as collateral further cement XRP's role in institutional workflows.

Market Dynamics: Technical and On-Chain Momentum

XRP's price action in July 2025 tells a story of institutional confidence. The token broke out of a multi-month descending triangle pattern, surging from $1.94 to $3.61 in under a month. Key technical indicators reinforce this bullish narrative:
- Relative Strength Index (RSI): Overbought territory, signaling strong short-term momentum.
- On-Balance Volume (OBV): A sustained upward trend, confirming large-buyer participation.
- Average Directional Index (ADX): High readings, indicating a strong trend.

On-chain data adds further validation. Whale accumulation has surged, with 2.2 billion XRP added to large wallets in just two weeks. This mirrors Bitcoin's pre-2021 rally, where institutional accumulation preceded a 630% price surge. Retail adoption is also accelerating, with XRP wallet counts rising 200% year-to-date to 7.19 million.

Institutional Adoption: From Treasuries to ETFs

Corporate treasuries are now allocating significant capital to XRP. Companies like VivoPower, Webus, and Thumzup Media have committed $421 million and $250 million to XRP, respectively, treating it as a strategic hedge against inflation. Ripple's own pursuit of a U.S. banking license underscores its ambition to integrate XRP into traditional finance, targeting the $2.5 trillion cross-border payments market.

The ProShares Ultra XRP ETF has attracted $1.2 billion in assets under management within its first week, signaling robust demand for regulated exposure. Analysts at Standard Chartered and Sistine Research project price targets of $5.50 and $33–$50, respectively, by year-end. While these may seem ambitious, they reflect the growing consensus that XRP is no longer a speculative token but a foundational infrastructure asset.

Risks and Realities

Despite the bullish case, risks persist. A failure to break above $3.85–$4.00 could trigger a pullback to $2.90–$3.00. Broader macroeconomic factors, such as Bitcoin's consolidation phase or regulatory reversals, also pose threats. However, XRP's ability to defend key support levels and its institutional backing suggest resilience.

Investment Thesis: A Buy Under $10?

XRP's price is currently trading at $3.45, far below the $10 threshold. Given its regulatory clarity, institutional adoption, and on-chain strength, the case for a buy is compelling. Short-term targets of $3.85–$4.00 are within reach, with mid-term potential for $5.50–$7.00 if the ETF gains traction. Long-term, a successful U.S. banking license application and dominance in cross-border payments could push XRP toward $8–$10 by 2026–2027.

For investors with a medium-term horizon, XRP offers a unique blend of utility, institutional-grade infrastructure, and regulatory tailwinds. While the $10 price tag may seem distant, the path to get there is paved with partnerships, legislative progress, and a growing ecosystem.

In conclusion, XRP is not just a buy under $10—it's a buy for the future of digital finance.