Standard Chartered has begun its coverage of XRP with an exceptionally bullish forecast, anticipating that the digital asset could reach $12.50 before the conclusion of President Donald Trump’s current term.
The bank noted that XRP’s growing range of applications, positive legal trajectory, and durability amid macroeconomic fluctuations position it as one of the few digital assets likely to excel in the next market cycle, according to Geoffrey Kendrick, the head of digital assets research at the bank.
Kendrick has classified XRP as a prime investment choice alongside Bitcoin (BTC) and Avalanche (AVAX), highlighting a mix of structural advantages and its significance in global payment systems.
Legal clarity and utility growth
The bank’s optimistic view heavily relies on the expectation that the lawsuit filed by the US Securities and Exchange Commission against Ripple Labs will resolve in Ripple’s favor, thus alleviating a significant barrier that has hindered XRP’s institutional adoption for an extended period.
The lender’s analysis also associated XRP’s potential growth with developments in US politics, speculating that a second Trump term would likely provide greater regulatory clarity and a more favorable policy landscape for digital assets.
Standard Chartered pointed out that the value proposition of XRP has evolved. Initially created as a cross-border payments token, XRP has now become central to a wider network, the XRP Ledger, which the bank characterized as a blockchain with increasing opportunities for tokenization and enterprise-level applications.
Kendrick is confident that XRP’s price could “keep pace with Bitcoin in real terms” and proposed a base-case scenario where XRP could rise from its current position near $1.90 to $12.50, provided Bitcoin reaches $500,000 in the same timeframe.
The bank anticipates that this growth will be driven by improvements in legal circumstances, network enhancements, and increasing transactional demand.
XRP may surpass ETH in market cap
In a particularly bold prediction, the report suggested that XRP might surpass Ethereum (ETH) in market capitalization by the end of 2025.
While Ethereum is projected to hit $8,000 within this period, the bank labeled it a “loser” compared to other leading assets, citing scalability issues and the rise of competition from more specialized chains.
Kendrick contrasted Ethereum’s broader challenges with what is perceived as XRP’s “sustainable” growth potential. He emphasized that recent leadership changes within the XRP ecosystem, along with increased on-chain activity, bolster confidence in XRP’s long-term outlook.
If XRP follows the proposed trajectory, it would become the second-largest non-stablecoin digital asset globally, outranked only by Bitcoin.
The bank upheld its previous Bitcoin forecast of $200,000 by the end of 2025 and reiterated its belief that the next upward movement in digital assets will be driven by “winners” with solid use cases and regulatory visibility.
Kendrick framed the current market volatility, including uncertainties from tariffs, as a strategic chance for long-term investment. With XRP now officially on the bank’s radar, the report indicates a widespread shift in how institutions are reevaluating digital assets previously viewed as legally or structurally challenged.
The inclusion of XRP among the bank’s top selections signifies a growing agreement that a new phase of adoption is beginning, one that may reward assets with genuine real-world applications and legal clarity rather than just brand recognition.