XRP Seeks to Overtake Ethereum by 2028: Standard Chartered Analyst Geoff Kendrick Predicts

Standard Chartered analyst Geoff Kendrick predicts that XRP could surpass Ethereum's market value by 2028 due to Ripple's expanding payments network, fading legal uncertainties, and the potential launch of XRP ETFs. XRP's focus on real-world utility, specifically enabling faster and cheaper cross-border payments, sets it apart from other cryptocurrencies like Ethereum and Bitcoin. Kendrick sees challenges for Ethereum's scalability and believes XRP's value could increase as it becomes more accessible to investors.

Standard Chartered analyst Geoff Kendrick predicts that XRP could surpass Ethereum's market value by 2028, driven by Ripple's expanding payments network, fading legal uncertainties, and the potential launch of XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs). XRP's focus on real-world utility, specifically enabling faster and cheaper cross-border payments, sets it apart from other cryptocurrencies like Ethereum and Bitcoin.

XRP, the native token of the Ripple payments network, is designed to facilitate quick and low-cost cross-border transactions. Unlike Bitcoin, which is primarily driven by speculation, and Ethereum, which serves as a foundation for decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystems, XRP's value is tied to its utility in the global payments landscape. Today, much of the cross-border transaction market relies on the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) network, which can be slow and costly due to intermediary banks and foreign currency conversions.

Ripple's technology offers a more streamlined approach, allowing corporations to convert their currency into XRP, transfer it instantly across the crypto's ledger, and have the receiving bank convert the tokens into a local currency. This eliminates intermediaries, reducing transaction fees and foreign exchange costs, and dramatically speeds up the settlement process.

Kendrick's bullish outlook on XRP is fueled by several factors. The analyst expects broader adoption of Ripple's payments network, which could be accelerated by fading legal uncertainties and less pressure from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Additionally, the potential launch of spot XRP ETFs could make the asset more accessible to both large financial institutions and retail investors.

However, Kendrick's forecast comes with important caveats. Broader adoption of Ripple does not necessarily translate into greater use of XRP, as banks can use Ripple's infrastructure without settling transactions in XRP. Furthermore, competition remains tough, with stablecoins issued by private corporations and potential central bank digital currencies (CBDC) offering alternative solutions that could diminish XRP's perceived value.

As of this writing, XRP's market capitalization stands at roughly $181 billion, larger than PayPal or Square individually and about equal to the combined value of Coinbase and Robinhood Markets. For XRP to flip Ethereum in market value in the coming years, multiple favorable developments need to align almost perfectly and in a relatively short time frame.

Given these uncertainties, XRP may be better suited as an opportunity to monitor rather than one to buy hand over fist at current prices. In my eyes, XRP is priced to perfection and has a long road ahead before it witnesses more valuation expansion.

References:
[1] https://www.fool.com/investing/2025/08/19/1-top-cryptocurrency-that-can-overtake-ethereum-by/
[2] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/1-top-cryptocurrency-overtake-ethereum-090000254.html