- Standard Chartered predicts XRP will surge 500% to $12.50 by 2028, overtaking Ethereum as the second-largest cryptocurrency.
- The forecast is driven by expected ETF approval, growing institutional adoption, and XRP’s leadership in tokenization.
In a bold and potentially game-changing forecast, global banking giant Standard Chartered has predicted a meteoric rise for Ripple’s XRP, suggesting the cryptocurrency could soar 500% to reach $12.50 by 2028. Even more striking, the bank believes XRP will surpass Ethereum in market capitalization, positioning it as the world’s second-largest non-stablecoin digital asset.
Also read: Ripple’s XRP Skyrockets as First U.S. XRP ETF Launches, Paving Way for Billions in Inflows
This ambitious outlook comes from Geoffrey Kendrick, Standard Chartered’s head of digital assets research. He cites XRP’s unique role in cross-border payments, tokenization leadership, and expected regulatory breakthroughs as major catalysts. “By the end of 2028 we see XRP’s market cap overtaking Ethereum’s,” Kendrick noted in a recent report.
A key turning point, Kendrick says, will be the anticipated approval of an spot ETF by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Q3 2025. Such an approval could bring in $4 to $8 billion in institutional inflows, setting off a wave of adoption and market momentum. The report also connects XRP’s regulatory progress to broader political shifts, including the potential reelection of Donald Trump and a more crypto-friendly policy landscape.
XRP is already making headway in institutional markets. A leveraged futures ETF has debuted on NYSE Arca, and Ripple has acquired prime brokerage platform Hidden Road for $1.25 billion, signaling its intent to embed XRP deeply into traditional finance. Meanwhile, Coinbase has filed to launch nano XRP futures, and Bitnomial Exchange now offers physically settled XRP contracts.
According to Kendrick’s timeline, could hit $5.50 by the end of 2025, $8.00 by 2026, and peak at $12.50 in 2028—holding that level into 2029. Even with XRP’s smaller developer community and ultra-low fees, Standard Chartered believes its utility in tokenization and payments will be more than enough to fuel its explosive growth.
As regulatory clarity increases and institutional infrastructure builds out, XRP could be poised not just for a price surge—but for a historic reshaping of the crypto hierarchy. Ethereum, watch your back.
