Wall Street Whale Sets Timeline for XRP to Hit $12.50

Crypto analyst Xaif Crypto has highlighted a bullish projection for XRP, attributed to Standard Chartered analyst Geoffrey Kendrick. According to the post, Kendrick anticipates XRP will reach a price of $12.50 by the year 2028, suggesting significant long-term appreciation for the asset. This projection is presented as an institutional outlook, indicating how some traditional financial analysts are evaluating XRP's future valuation.

Xaif Crypto noted the projection as significant due to its connection with a major global bank and its multi-year timeframe. The post implies that the price target is based on expectations related to market access, capital inflows, and evolving investor participation, rather than short-term price fluctuations.

ETF Approvals and Expected Capital Inflows

A key element of Kendrick’s projection is the anticipation of regulatory approval for spot XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The post indicates that up to six XRP ETF products are expected to become operational, thereby creating new avenues for both institutional and retail investors to gain exposure.

In conjunction with these anticipated approvals, Kendrick reportedly estimates that XRP-related ETFs could attract between $4 billion and $8 billion in capital inflows within their initial year. These inflows are viewed as a significant factor supporting higher long-term valuations, predicated on the assumption that ETFs enhance accessibility and credibility within mainstream financial markets.

Xaif Crypto stressed that the projection extends several years into the future, suggesting that the anticipated impact of ETFs is expected to develop gradually over time, rather than causing immediate price shifts.

Market Capitalization Outlook and Ethereum Comparison

The post also highlighted Kendrick’s perspective that XRP could potentially challenge and even surpass Ethereum's market capitalization during the projected 2026 crypto bull market. This aspect of the outlook positions XRP as a contender for a higher ranking among major digital assets, contingent upon sustained market interest and continued institutional involvement.

However, not all reactions to the post were uniformly positive. An X user identified as Quantum_XRP cautioned that ETF approvals and inflow figures should not be directly equated to a definitive price formula.

The user explained that capital invested in ETFs often moves through authorized participants, creation and redemption processes, hedging activities, and secondary markets. Consequently, a substantial portion of these inflows might be internally offset and may not directly translate into consistent buying pressure in the spot market.

Quantum_XRP also questioned the market capitalization comparison, asserting that overtaking Ethereum would necessitate persistent demand, an increase in settlement volume, and expanded liquidity utilization.

The comment argued that without a clear mechanism that connects usage, capital flows, and supply absorption, such projections might resemble promotional narratives more than detailed market analyses of activity on the XRP Ledger (XRPL).

In contrast, another X user, XRP HERALD, concurred with the projection, stating that the $12.50 target reflects a combination of ETF adoption, liquidity conditions, and strategic timing. The user suggested that if XRP begins to capture market share relative to Ethereum in the upcoming cycle, the signals outlined in Kendrick’s outlook might become more evident in retrospect.

This exchange of views highlights differing interpretations regarding how institutional forecasts, ETF structures, and broader market dynamics could potentially influence XRP's long-term price trajectory.