XRP: Breakthrough Potential After Legal Victory and Spot ETF Expectations

XRP is currently the third largest cryptocurrency in the world, with a market capitalization of 193 billion USD, priced at 3.25 USD as of 13/8(. After several years entangled in legal disputes, XRP is entering a new phase, as legal barriers are lifted and expectations for spot ETF) are rising. 📈 XRP Price Forecast: From Cautious to Optimistic According to Geoffrey Kendrick (Standard Chartered), the price outlook for XRP in the coming years is very positive: 8 USD in 2026 – an increase of 146% compared to now10.40 USD in 2027 – an increase of 220%12.50 USD in 2028 – an increase of 285% However, a more cautious forecast suggests that the global cryptocurrency market could reach 8.4 trillion USD by 2034 with an average growth rate of 8% per year. If XRP continues to outperform the overall market, increasing by 750% over the past three years compared to the overall market's increase of 270%, the price of XRP could double to 6.50 USD in the next three years. 1️⃣ Legal Victory Paves the Way for Growth Ripple – the company behind the XRP Ledger – provides faster and cheaper cross-border payment solutions compared to the traditional SWIFT system. This creates real demand for XRP. Since 2020, Ripple has been sued by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for allegedly offering unregistered securities in the form of XRP. By 2023, the court ruled in part in favor of the SEC by determining that transactions with institutional investors violated securities laws, forcing Ripple to pay a fine of 125 million USD. Initially, the SEC demanded a fine of 2 billion USD, but in early August 2025, the agency withdrew the lawsuit, officially closing a lengthy case. The elimination of this legal risk could encourage more financial institutions to use Ripple Payments, especially as Ripple has just integrated stablecoins into the XRP ecosystem. 2️⃣ Spot XRP ETF – "Key" to Attract New Capital Currently, there are at least 8 applications from fund management companies ( such as Franklin Templeton) submitted to the SEC for approval of a spot XRP ETF. All will be decided before October, and according to Eric Balchunas ( Bloomberg), the likelihood of approval is up to 95%. Spot ETFs enable investors to easily access XRP through traditional brokerage accounts, eliminating the need to open digital wallets or pay high transaction fees. This convenience could significantly stimulate demand for XRP from both individual and institutional investors. Previously, Bitcoin had increased by 160% since the approval of the spot ETF in January 2024, with iShares Bitcoin Trust becoming the fastest growing ETF in history. Although the XRP ETF is unlikely to achieve the "explosive" growth of Bitcoin, the possibility of prices doubling in 3 years is entirely feasible. ⚠️ Note of Risk Cryptocurrency is a highly volatile asset. XRP has dropped more than 30% from its peak three times in the past five years. Investors should consider allocating a small proportion, for example, only 1% of their portfolio, and may wait for the approval of the XRP spot ETF before participating. Conclusion With the legal barriers removed, it is highly likely that spot ETFs will open up new capital flows. Coupled with a strong position in cross-border payments, XRP is facing a great opportunity for growth. However, a reasonable strategy remains to approach cautiously, allocate small capital, and closely monitor the ETF approval process.