XRP Price Prediction: $5 by 2028? | Ripple Forecast

XRP Price Prediction: Standard Chartered Analyst Forecasts 500% Upside by 2028

A new analysis suggests XRP could see a dramatic price surge in the coming years.Geoffrey Kendrick, head of digital asset research at standard Chartered Bank, projects the cryptocurrency will reach $12.50 by 2028, representing a potential 500% increase from its current value. This bullish outlook is fueled by XRPS potential to revolutionize cross-border payments and the recent approval of spot XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Cryptocurrency Market Conditions and XRP’s Performance

The broader cryptocurrency market has faced economic uncertainty, which prompted investors to reduce exposure to riskier assets, and the liquidation of leveraged positions.XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) has underperformed relative to the market, witnessing a 22% price decrease to $2.08 over the last 12 months.

Standard chartered’s Bullish XRP Forecast

Despite recent setbacks, Kendrick anticipates a rebound for XRP.He believes increased regulatory clarity and the growing adoption of spot ETFs will be key drivers of price appreciation. “XRP is uniquely positioned at the heart of one of the fastest-growing use cases for digital assets — facilitation of cross-border and cross-currency payments,” a senior analyst noted.

The Potential of XRP for Cross-Border Payments

XRP is designed to facilitate fast and inexpensive cross-border transactions via the XRP ledger. Currently, international payments often rely on the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) system, which can take three to five days to settle and incur ample fees due to a complex network of intermediaries. Ripple,the fintech company utilizing the XRP Ledger,asserts that XRP can bypass these inefficiencies,offering near-instant settlement and minimal fees.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse estimates that XRP could possibly handle 14% of the $150 trillion in annual transactions processed through SWIFT, equating to over $20 trillion annually. While this projection has been met with skepticism, the increased demand resulting from such volume would undoubtedly impact XRP’s price.

The rise of Stablecoins and Ripple’s Response

Though, some analysts question the viability of using a volatile cryptocurrency like XRP for everyday transactions, even with rapid settlement times. They argue that stablecoins offer a more predictable and reliable solution. Ripple addressed this concern by introducing Ripple USD (RLUSD) in December 2024,but its impact on transaction volume has been limited,with XRP transaction volume actually decreasing over the past year.

Spot XRP ETFs: Unlocking Institutional Investment

The approval of spot XRP ETFs in November represents a significant growth. Currently, six such funds are available on U.S. exchanges, providing investors with a more accessible way to gain exposure to XRP through traditional brokerage accounts. The Franklin XRP ETF (XRPZ), with an expense ratio of 0.19%, is particularly attractive, offering lower costs compared to fees charged by exchanges like Coinbase or Robinhood for smaller transactions.

These ETFs are expected to unlock substantial demand from institutional investors, who collectively manage $147 trillion in assets under management (AUM) as of June 2025. Kendrick estimates that spot XRP ETF inflows could reach $4 billion to $8 billion in the first year alone.

Skepticism Remains: A Contrarian View

Despite the optimistic outlook, some remain unconvinced.One analyst believes Kendrick’s $12.50 target is overly ambitious, citing the preference for stablecoins in payment systems and the challenges Ripple USD faces in disrupting established players like Circle Internet Group’s USDC. While spot XRP ETFs could drive demand, this analyst suggests institutional investors will likely prioritize Bitcoin. Data indicates that spot Bitcoin etfs reached $1.4 billion in net inflows within a month of launch, while spot XRP ETFs took two months to achieve the same milestone.

Option Investment Opportunities

Before investing in XRP, investors should consider other options. The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team recently identified 10 stocks with potentially higher returns, and XRP was not among them. Their track record demonstrates significant outperformance, with an average return of 958% compared to the S&P 500’s 196%.