Standard Chartered Sees 330% Up in XRP Price Prediction by 2026

XRP Price Prediction Bolstered by ETF Inflows and Regulatory Clarity

Standard Chartered has stated a strong XRP price prediction, estimating that the token’s value could surge to $8 by the next year – 2026, presenting a potential 330% upside from the current levels of $1.85. 

Source: CryptosRus Official

Geoffrey Kendrick, Head of Digital Assets Research at Standard Chartered, believes XRP is entering a new development phase. According to his prediction, the crypto asset stands to benefit from two major catalysts: regulatory certainty and the approval of spot XRP-ETFs.

But how? Let’s understand the recent shifts that Kendrick takes as the base for the coin's price surge. 

Developments That Make Prediction Strong

The long-running Ripple vs. SEC lawsuit, first filed in December 2020, reached a final resolution in 2025. 

The settlement confirmed that XRP is not a security in secondary market sales, removing a major legal hurdle that had limited institutional participation. This clarity has opened the door for broader adoption across financial markets.

Adding to the bullish outlook, spot XRP ETFs launched in the U.S. in late 2025. Data from on-chain analytics platform SoSoValue shows that these ETFs recorded $1.14 billion in net inflows by December 26, with no single day of outflows since launch. 

This signals strong institutional demand and supports Kendrick’s XRP price prediction for 2026.

Source: SoSo Value

XRP ETF Demand Signals Institutional Confidence

Several major asset managers like 21Shares, Bitwise, Franklin Templeton, Grayscale, and Canary Capital, launched spot XRP-ETFs starting mid-November 2025. Together, these products have collected around $1.2–1.25 billion in assets under management.

Surprisingly, XRP-ETFs have surpassed Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs in recent weeks, where both recorded outflows as the overall market consolidated. This trend suggests increasing confidence in the token's long-term value, and empowered bullish the price prediction for 2026.

However, analysts note that ETF purchases often happen through over-the-counter (OTC) deals, which absorb supply gradually rather than causing immediate price spikes on exchanges.

Why The Price Hasn’t Rallied Yet

Despite positive news and strong ETF inflows, the price has still not been able to cross the $2 barrier. The token today remains range-bound around $1.85–$1.90. The token is still nearly 10.9% down today and 48% below its mid-2025 peak of around $3.50.

Source: CoinMarketCap

Market experts attribute this to broader crypto market weakness, long-term holders profit taking, and macroeconomic liquidity pressures. These factors might have made the short-term price action slower but they don't affect the long-term predictions for XRP price that are already bullish.

Market Sentiment: Is $8 Value Realistic?

At this point, the token appears to be in a consolidation phase, a general step for any asset before the next major price hikes. Standard Chartered’s $8 XRP price prediction by 2026 is ambitious and the community has also largely welcomed it. 

If ETF inflows maintain the current growth pattern and utility-driven adoption grows, 2026 could be a breakout year for the token.

However, legal clarity may not be a standalone factor driving price increases; user adoption has to be persistent too. Risks still remain, including XRP’s correlation with Bitcoin, global macroeconomics conditions, major upcoming decision in 2026, and ETF inflows uncertainties. 

Yet, partnerships in Asia and expanding payment use cases through RippleNet continue to strengthen the asset's fundamentals.

Disclaimer: Crypto assets are highly volatile. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.