**Standard Chartered Envisions XRP Climbing to $12.50 Amid Potential Second Trump Presidency, Boosted by Positive Regulatory Climate and Growing Cross-Border Payment Adoption**
Standard Chartered has ignited excitement among XRP enthusiasts by forecasting that the digital asset could surge to $12.50 if Donald Trump secures a second term in office. This optimistic outlook is attributed to favorable regulatory conditions and a significant uptick in the adoption of XRP for cross-border payments. In a recent note, Geoff Kendrick, the bank’s head of digital asset research, suggested that XRP could experience nearly 200% growth by the end of this year, potentially reaching $5.50 by the close of 2025. Kendrick highlighted XRP’s distinctive role in the cryptocurrency landscape, particularly its application in cross-border and cross-currency transactions, a sector that is rapidly expanding. “We believe XRP price gains can keep pace with Bitcoin in real terms,” he stated.
As of Tuesday, XRP, the native token of the XRP Ledger created by Ripple Labs, was trading around $1.80 after a slight 6% dip in the previous 24 hours. Despite these short-term fluctuations, the long-term outlook remains bright, especially as XRP continues to establish its significance in international finance. Ripple has faced challenges with U.S. regulators in recent years, notably when the SEC filed a lawsuit against the company in 2020, claiming it conducted an unregistered securities offering through its XRP token. However, a pivotal ruling in 2023 by a federal judge determined that XRP’s programmatic sales to retail investors did not qualify as securities, a decision widely regarded as a victory for the cryptocurrency sector.
In the wake of this ruling, Ripple has been working to strengthen its position, aligning itself more closely with pro-crypto factions within the incoming Trump Administration. With the SEC now under leadership that is more favorable to cryptocurrency, Ripple is eager to advance several XRP-related financial products, including exchange-traded funds (ETFs). On April 8, Teucrium Investment Advisors launched the XXRP ETF—a 2x leveraged product linked to XRP—on NYSE Arca. Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas remarked on the unusual timing of the launch, suggesting it was “very odd (maybe a first)” for a leveraged ETF to debut before a spot ETF has been approved. Nevertheless, there is a strong sense of optimism that a traditional XRP ETF will soon follow.
Further fueling this positive sentiment, Ripple recently announced its $1.25 billion acquisition of Hidden Road, a prime brokerage firm that embraces cryptocurrency. This deal stands as one of the largest in the history of crypto and highlights Ripple’s strategic growth amid improving regulatory conditions. XRP previously reached an all-time high of $3.40 in 2018 and nearly matched that figure in January 2025, just before Trump’s inauguration, briefly touching $3.38. If Standard Chartered’s predictions come to fruition, the token could more than triple its previous all-time high, bolstered by supportive U.S. policies and a rapidly evolving global payments landscape.
