Standard Chartered’s XRP Price Prediction: $12.50 Target Hinges on SEC, Tokenization Growth

A new report from banking heavyweight Standard Chartered has made waves across the crypto space after it projected a new bullish path for XRP, Ripple’s native token. The report lays out a roadmap that sees XRP reaching $12.50 by the end of 2028, fueled by growing blockchain adoption and potential regulatory clarity under U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term. While the forecast is optimistic, it also relies heavily on best-case scenarios, raising eyebrows among analysts.

$12.50 by 2028? Standard Chartered’s Bold XRP Price Prediction

After XRP’s recent struggles, Standard Chartered’s new forecast has revived bullish sentiment. The bank predicts a steady climb: $5.50 by end-2025, $8 in 2026, $10.40 in 2027, and finally, $12.50 by late 2028. This timeline aligns with the conclusion of Trump’s current presidential term, which the bank sees as a potential catalyst for regulatory clarity.

The report highlights XRP’s unique value in facilitating fast, cost-effective cross-border payments via the XRP Ledger (XRPL). With traditional systems facing inefficiencies, Standard Chartered believes institutional demand for XRP will increase as financial systems evolve toward tokenized, blockchain-based settlement.

What’s Fueling the Forecast?

Standard Chartered’s outlook is built on several pillars:

• Ripple’s leadership in real-time cross-currency transactions
• Rising demand for tokenized finance and asset settlement
• Increased optimism around a favorable SEC ruling, including a possible end to legal appeals
• Speculation of an XRP ETF, which could drive fresh institutional capital into the market

The bank also sees Ripple’s tokenization initiatives as a major contributor to value, noting the firm’s expanding partnerships and increased usage of XRPL for real-world assets.

But Can XRP Hit $12.50? Analysts Weigh Risks

Despite the bullish outlook, critics are questioning whether the XRP to $12.50 forecast is realistic. Analysts note that Standard Chartered’s model underplays major hurdles, particularly around XRPL adoption and developer engagement. The report itself admits the XRP Ledger has a smaller developer ecosystem compared to rivals like Ethereum and Solana, which may limit its scalability and value capture.

In addition, XRP has historically struggled to reflect network growth in price action. This raises concerns about whether broader adoption will translate into meaningful token appreciation, especially in the absence of robust DeFi or NFT ecosystems on XRPL.

XRP Today: Modest Moves, Big Ambitions

As of April 9, 2025, XRP is trading at $1.77, marking a 0.90% dip over the past 24 hours and a 7% weekly drop. The asset maintains a market cap of $103 billion with 58 billion tokens circulating. While XRP remains a top-tier crypto by market cap, it still faces resistance around the $2 mark, far from the lofty $12.50 goal. With global markets eyeing regulatory developments and Ripple’s expansion, investors are cautiously optimistic. But without clear legal rulings and ecosystem growth, Standard Chartered’s XRP price prediction may remain a distant dream.

Conclusion: Optimism Meets Reality

Standard Chartered’s XRP to $12.50 call has reignited discussion about Ripple’s long-term value. While the bullish thesis hinges on important macro shifts and legal victories, it also faces substantial execution risks. For now, XRP holders may find hope in the vision — but will need patience, clarity, and community growth to realize it.