Standard Chartered “XRP, To rise 500% by 2028… Will surpass Ethereum”
Standard Chartered has predicted that Ripple's cryptocurrency XRP could surge by about 500% to reach $12.5 by 2028 and could surpass Ethereum in market capitalization to become the largest digital asset excluding Bitcoin.
According to Bitcoin.com on the 12th (local time), Standard Chartered's Head of Digital Asset Research, Geoffrey Kendrick, made such a prediction while starting official coverage of XRP. He analyzed, “XRP has structural advantages such as utility in the payment market, leadership in tokenization, and improvement in the regulatory environment, and institutional adoption will accelerate in the future.”
In particular, he suggested the possibility that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) could approve an XRP spot ETF by the third quarter of 2025, and estimated that $4 billion to $8 billion could flow into XRP in the first year if approved. This inflow of funds could act as a key driver for XRP price increase.
The specific price forecast for XRP is $5.5 by the end of 2025, $8.0 in 2026, and $12.5 in 2028-2029. This is an estimate based on the scenario that the Bitcoin price reaches $500,000 by 2028. Kendrick added, “XRP has weaknesses such as low fees and a limited developer ecosystem, but its future role in the market and expanding touchpoints with institutional finance will sufficiently offset the weaknesses.”
The recent activation of XRP-related derivatives also supports the upward scenario. NYSE Arca has listed an XRP futures ETF with double leverage, and Coinbase has applied for a Nano XRP futures product with the CFTC. Bitnomial Exchange has introduced a physically-delivered XRP futures product to enhance institutional accessibility.
Alongside, Ripple recently acquired the prime broker Hidden Road for $1.25 billion. CTO David Schwartz evaluated this acquisition as a “decisive turning point,” and CEO Brad Garlinghouse mentioned it as a “catalyst for the full-scale adoption of XRP in the traditional financial market.”
Meanwhile, Ripple and the SEC are currently negotiating a $50 million settlement proposal to conclude the XRP-related lawsuit and have officially requested a temporary halt to the litigation process. Garlinghouse has stated they are negotiating to allow the fine to be paid in XRP in this settlement.
This series of events is spreading the optimism in the market that XRP could secure a leadership position in the global digital asset market, based on regulatory clarity.