Standard Chartered Projects Large XRP Benefits on ETF and Infrastructure Developments

• Standard Chartered projects XRP at $8 by 2026, citing ETF growth and institutional market access.
• Spot XRP ETFs reached about $1.15B in inflows, easing custody and access barriers for institutions.
• Payments use cases and new futures products contrast with mixed market views on XRP’s price direction.

Standard Chartered has issued a bullish outlook on XRP, projecting a large price increase by 2026 as institutional exposure to the asset expands and activity across its underlying network increases. The forecast positions the bank among a growing group of traditional financial institutions that publish forward-looking research on major crypto assets tied to payments infrastructure.

According to research commentary from Standard Chartered, Geoffrey Kendrick, the bank’s global head of digital assets research, estimates that XRP could reach $8 by 2026. Based on a reference price of $1.86 cited in the outlook, this would imply an increase of approximately 330%. Kendrick attributed the projection to measurable changes in market structure rather than short-term price momentum.

ETF Inflows Highlight Institutional Access

A central component of the bank’s analysis is the emergence of spot XRP exchange-traded funds in the United States. Several products began trading in November, including offerings from Franklin Templeton, Grayscale, and Canary Capital. These vehicles enable institutions to gain exposure to XRP without directly managing the token’s custody.

Data compiled by SoSoValue shows that cumulative inflows into XRP-related ETFs reached roughly $1.15 billion as of December 29. The availability of regulated investment products is cited as reducing operational barriers that previously limited institutional participation.

Payments Utility and Network Efficiency

Beyond investment products, Standard Chartered’s outlook also references XRP’s role as the native asset of the XRP Ledger. The ledger is designed to process transactions with lower fees and faster settlement times compared to traditional messaging systems, such as SWIFT.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has stated that the XRP Ledger could account for up to 14% of SWIFT-facilitated payments within five years. While no timeline for such adoption has been confirmed, the statement is referenced as part of the broader payments narrative surrounding the asset.

Diverging Views and Additional Market Signals

Not all market participants share the same outlook. Veteran trader Peter Brandt recently warned that XRP could fall below $1, citing a double-top pattern on weekly charts. Separately, institutional infrastructure around XRP has continued to develop. In mid-December, CME Group launched spot-priced XRP futures, expanding access for professional investors.

XRP has also been referenced in discussions on tokenization. Charles Hoskinson stated that Ripple and Midnight, a project associated with Cardano, are operating at scales far beyond that of the existing tokenization sector.