Staff Report
Institutional momentum, tokenization breakthroughs, and ETF prospects could catapult XRP to second place in the crypto market.
In a bold new prediction that’s shaking up the crypto landscape, Standard Chartered has launched formal coverage on XRP—forecasting an explosive rise that could see the digital asset reach $12.50 by the end of 2028, a near 500% gain from current levels. The global banking giant believes XRP will not only surge in price but also leapfrog Ethereum to become the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, trailing only Bitcoin.
According to Geoffrey Kendrick, Head of Digital Assets Research at Standard Chartered, XRP is entering a new era of strategic utility and institutional validation. “We see XRP overtaking Ethereum’s market cap by the end of 2028,” Kendrick stated, citing the token’s growing role in cross-border payments and real-world asset tokenization.
ETF Approval Could Unlock Billions
A key catalyst? The long-anticipated approval of a spot XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF), which Kendrick predicts could receive the green light from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as early as Q3 2025. If approved, he estimates inflows of $4–8 billion in the ETF’s first year—setting the stage for accelerated adoption and price action.
This ETF optimism aligns with a broader shift in regulatory sentiment. Kendrick referenced a recent development in the XRP-SEC legal battle, where the commission opted not to pursue an appeal—a decision Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse linked to potential changes in the U.S. political landscape, including a return of former President Donald Trump.
The Rise of XRP Ledger in Tokenization
Beyond regulatory wins, XRP’s native blockchain, XRP Ledger (XRPL), is positioning itself as a major player in asset tokenization—a market expected to swell into the trillions in coming years.
“XRPL is currently a payments chain, but it’s rapidly evolving into a leading tokenization platform,” Kendrick explained, comparing its trajectory to that of Stellar, the second-largest player in tokenized assets today.
Standard Chartered’s price targets reflect this long-term outlook:
- $5.50 by the end of 2025
- $8.00 in 2026
- $12.50 by 2028, sustaining through 2029
These forecasts are based on an assumption that Bitcoin will reach $500,000 by 2028, with XRP growing at an average annual rate of 6%—well above Bitcoin’s projected 0.8%.
XRP Futures, Institutional Deals, and Legal Closure
Institutional doors are already swinging open. A 2x leveraged XRP futures ETF recently launched on NYSE Arca, offering amplified exposure for traders. Coinbase has also filed with the CFTC to list nano XRP futures, and Bitnomial has introduced physically settled XRP futures contracts.
Meanwhile, Ripple’s recent $1.25 billion acquisition of Hidden Road, a global prime brokerage platform, is another strategic move. The integration of XRPL into institutional-grade settlement systems marks a leap forward in bridging crypto with traditional finance. Ripple CTO David Schwartz hailed it as a “defining moment,” while Garlinghouse said the move would “solidify XRP’s presence in institutional markets.”
To cap it off, Ripple and the SEC have jointly filed to finalize a $50 million settlement, signaling the end of a years-long legal battle and further removing regulatory clouds from XRP’s future.
Bottom Line: With regulatory winds shifting, infrastructure expanding, and tokenization gaining traction, XRP appears to be on a collision course with Ethereum’s throne. Whether it truly surpasses ETH remains to be seen—but the road ahead looks more bullish than ever.
