Standard Chartered's bullish XRP forecast projects $8 by 2026, driven by regulatory clarity and over $1 billion in spot ETF inflows. The bank sees institutional adoption transforming the digital asset's outlook.
Standard Chartered has released one of the most bullish XRP price predictions ever issued by a major global bank. The financial giant projects XRP could surge to $8 by 2026, representing a potential 332% gain from current levels around $1.85.
Geoffrey Kendrick, Global Head of Digital Assets Research at Standard Chartered, outlined the ambitious target based on regulatory clarity and institutional adoption through XRP ETFs. The forecast marks a significant shift in how traditional finance views the digital asset.
Regulatory Victory Paves Way for Institutional Money
The legal battle between Ripple and the U.S. SEC officially concluded in August 2025 after years of uncertainty. The case, which began in December 2020, questioned whether XRP should be classified as a security.
According to The Crypto Basic on X, a U.S. court ruled in July 2023 that XRP's programmatic sales on exchanges did not qualify as securities transactions, while institutional sales violated securities laws.
Ripple paid a $125 million fine in August 2024. However, both parties entered appeal proceedings until a government change and new SEC leadership led to dropped appeals in August 2025.
The settlement removed years of legal pressure that had suppressed XRP price performance. Many analysts believe the real rally is still ahead, particularly once the Clarity Act passes in 2026.
Spot XRP ETFs Attract Over $1 Billion in Institutional Capital
Following the legal resolution, spot XRP ETFs quickly entered U.S. markets. Asset managers including Canary, Franklin Templeton, 21Shares, Grayscale, and Bitwise launched products offering regulated exposure to the token.
As The Crypto Basic reported on X, data from SoSoValue shows spot XRP ETFs have recorded $1.15 billion in net inflows as of December 29, with $8.44 million in recent daily investment.
Total assets under management for XRP ETFs reached $1.24 billion. Industry leaders view this as just the beginning, expecting momentum to accelerate significantly throughout 2026.
Standard Chartered believes regulatory clarity combined with growing ETF adoption has fundamentally transformed XRP's investment profile. The asset is now viewed as a legitimate financial instrument rather than a legal risk.
If Kendrick's $8 target materializes by 2026, XRP would achieve a valuation approaching half a trillion dollars. The bank's longer-term outlook is even more aggressive, projecting XRP could reach $10.5 by 2027 and $12.5 by 2028, pushing the asset into double-digit territory for the first time.
With institutional participation expanding and regulatory uncertainty eliminated, XRP appears positioned for a multi-year rally supported by traditional finance's growing interest in digital assets.
** Key Takeaways:**
- Standard Chartered forecasts XRP reaching $8 by 2026, a potential 332% gain from current $1.85 levels
- Spot XRP ETFs have attracted $1.15 billion in institutional inflows following SEC legal settlement
- Bank projects XRP could climb to $10.5 by 2027 and $12.5 by 2028 with regulatory clarity
#XRP #CryptocurrencyETF #StandardChartered #RippleSEC #DigitalAssets
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XRP $8 by 2026: Standard Chartered Prediction
Standard Chartered predicts XRP could hit $8 by 2026, citing regulatory clarity and $1.15B in ETF inflows. Geoffrey Kendrick sees 332% upside potential.