Standard Chartered Forecast: XRP May Surpass Ethereum in Market Cap

The analyst cites the possible approval of a spot ETF for XRP in the US as a key growth driver, which the market expects by October. An additional incentive was the completion of Ripple's five-year trial with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which had been holding back the asset for a long time.

Kendrick emphasized that the main value of XRP is its blockchain, created for fast and inexpensive payments. The technology allows funds to be transferred across borders much faster than the traditional SWIFT system. This, in his opinion, is what makes the coin popular in the field of international transactions. However, the expert noted that the growth of central bank digital currencies (CBDC) could create serious competition for XRP in the future.

Standard Chartered analysts are not the only ones to point to the token’s high prospects. Thus, NovaDius Wealth Management President Nate Geraci previously expressed confidence that the SEC could approve an XRP-based ETF within the next two months, before October. This step, according to him, could become a turning point for the market and increase institutional investors’ interest in the asset.

Thus, a combination of several factors — regulatory clarity, infrastructure development, and interest from major players — creates the basis for a potential sharp rise in XRP. However, experts remind us that, amid global competition in the payments sector, especially from CBDCs, the coin’s future remains dependent on its ability to adapt to new market conditions.

Updated forecasts show that XRP could play a more significant role in the global financial system in the coming years if key events, including the launch of an ETF, actually come to fruition.