Standard Chartered Bank has turned bullish on XRP, predicting a potential 330% price rise by 2026. The prediction comes at a time when crypto markets are slowly recovering from their recent market drop.

Meanwhile, this bullish prediction is supported by growing institutional inflows into XRP ETFs and clearer regulations that are boosting investor confidence.

Standard Chartered Predicts XRP To Hit $8 by 2026

Geoffrey Kendrick, the bank’s global head of digital assets research, recently predicted that Ripple’s native token XRP could rise from around $1.86 to as high as $8 by 2026. 

Interestingly, the XRP token is currently down about 11% this year and almost 50% below its all-time high of $3.65. 

If the Kendrick Prediction plays out, the XRP price will see a jump of more than 330% from current levels.

According to Kendrick, this forecast is not based on short-term market excitement. He believes XRP is entering a phase where it can finally scale without legal pressure holding it back.

Spot XRP ETFs Drive Institutional Demand

One of the key reasons behind the bullish stance is the approval of spot XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Since the launch in nov, XRP ETFs have already attracted $1.15 billion in net inflows as of December 30. 

Meanwhile, playing a key role in growing institutional adoption is improved regulatory clarity. 

For years, XRP remained under pressure due to legal uncertainty, keeping many exchanges, banks, and asset managers on the sidelines. That changed after Ripple’s legal victory against the U.S. SEC, which clarified XRP’s status in secondary markets.

XRP Supply Squeeze On Exchange

On-chain data indicate that exchange balances have dropped to a year-low of around 1.5 billion XRP, suggesting that more tokens are being moved off exchanges into long-term storage. 

All thanks to the institutional buyer whose steady inflow suggests long-term positioning rather than short-term trading.

If this buying trend continues, XRP supply on exchanges could shrink, pushing prices higher.

Ripple Network Expands Across Major Countries

Beyond price and ETFs, XRP’s real-world use is also expanding. Ripple continues to grow its payment network across dozens of countries, helping banks and payment providers move money faster and at lower cost. 

XRP plays a key role in providing liquidity for these cross-border transactions, which strengthens its long-term value case.

If these trends continue, Standard Chartered’s bold prediction may not look as far-fetched as it once did.

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