XRP News Update: XRP Eyes $26.50 Milestone—Regulatory Developments and ETFs Drive Momentum

XRP, created by Ripple, has become a central topic among both investors and institutions as price forecasts soar and regulatory news unfolds. Both market analysts and AI-driven predictions indicate that the token could rise from its present value of about $2.05 to as much as $5.05 by the close of 2025, and potentially hit

. These projections have gained momentum following the introduction of spot ETFs, which have attracted notable institutional participation and across offerings from Grayscale, Canary Capital, and Bitwise.

The ETF surge has aligned with the conclusion of the lengthy SEC versus Ripple lawsuit, which ended in 2025 with a decision stating that secondary-market XRP sales do not qualify as securities

. This regulatory certainty has encouraged banks and payment firms to adopt Ripple’s On-Demand Liquidity services, which use XRP to streamline international payments more effectively than legacy systems .

Despite the positive outlook, XRP’s price continues to fluctuate. After briefly surpassing $2.05 in November 2025, it slipped back to $1.98 as the broader market corrected

. Chart analysts point to important support at $2.00 and $1.50, with a move above $2.20 potentially triggering a rally toward $2.50 . At the same time, institutional interest is on the rise, with more than 200 million XRP withdrawn from exchanges following ETF launches, indicating a change in investor behavior .

The most optimistic projections for XRP are based on its potential role as a foundational asset in global finance. Research from Cheeky Crypto and The Crypto Basic has produced price estimates tied to various levels of institutional adoption. Should XRP process 10% of the $150 trillion handled by SWIFT each year, its price could reach $83, making 1,000 XRP worth $83,300

. Even if XRP were to facilitate just 5% of cross-border payments, the price could climb to $33 . A more cautious scenario, where banks use XRP as a liquidity reserve, estimates a value of $8.33 .

However, these projections are highly dependent on velocity—the frequency with which XRP is used in transactions. Faster velocity means less XRP needs to be held in liquidity pools, which can ease upward price pressure. On the other hand, slower velocity may increase price volatility

.

Ripple’s recent acquisitions, such as Hidden Road and GTreasury, have further reinforced its payments network, potentially boosting XRP’s practical use

. Still, the outlook for XRP is uncertain, as global economic factors and overall crypto market trends could impact its path. For example, a sustained rebound in and could have a positive effect, helping XRP maintain stability near the $2 level .

As the cryptocurrency sector processes these changes, XRP finds itself at a pivotal moment. While ETF inflows and regulatory advancements lay the groundwork for potential growth, the token’s future value will ultimately depend on its ability to expand within the global financial landscape. For those holding 1,000 XRP, the upcoming months may reveal whether their investment becomes significant or remains speculative.