Prediction: Here’s How Much XRP (Ripple) Could Be Valued at in 5 Years

XRP ( XRP 3.80%) has surged 725% over the past three years, with the majority of that growth occurring in the last year following President Trump’s election and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s decision to drop its lawsuit against Ripple, the fintech firm leveraging the XRP blockchain to process payments for businesses and financial institutions.

Geoff Kendrick from Standard Chartered foresees further growth as XRP becomes more integrated into international finance, with the introduction of XRP ETFs attracting additional investors. He predicts XRP could reach $12.25 by 2029, which suggests a 315% increase from the current $2.95 price—translating to an annualized return of 43%.

This projection appears quite optimistic. Analysts at Morningstar believe the overall cryptocurrency sector will expand at an annual rate of 9% through 2034, a forecast that is in line with the historic growth of global equities. While XRP, as the third-largest digital asset, may outperform the broader crypto market, it is unlikely to do so to the extent Kendrick suggests.

Investors should consider a more cautious approach: Should XRP appreciate at 20% per year over the next five years, its value would climb roughly 150% to $7.35 by the end of 2030. I see the potential approval of spot XRP ETFs as the primary catalyst, though greater business and institutional use could also play a role.

Here are the key points investors should be aware of.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse expects notable XRP adoption within five years

Ripple, a fintech company, delivers cross-border payment services to businesses and financial institutions. Its On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) platform utilizes the XRP token as an intermediary asset, enabling international transactions that are both faster and less costly than conventional wire transfers using the SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications) system.

Ripple’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, recently projected that XRP might account for 14% of SWIFT’s cross-border payment volume in the next five years. However, I am highly skeptical of this forecast. While hundreds of banks have adopted Ripple Payments—a suite encompassing all Ripple’s offerings—only a small portion actually utilize the ODL service.

Put simply, most clients of Ripple are not relying on XRP to move funds. The logic is sound: using a volatile digital asset that could fluctuate significantly in value, even over just a few seconds, is not ideal for transferring money.

To address this, Ripple has introduced a stablecoin called Ripple USD into its ecosystem. Nonetheless, it faces stiff competition from established stablecoins such as USDC and Tether.

If more companies and financial institutions begin transacting on the XRP blockchain, demand for XRP could rise, potentially boosting its price. This holds true regardless of which token acts as the intermediary, since transaction fees are always paid in XRP. However, XRP’s volatility and RLUSD’s limited adoption compared to bigger stablecoins weaken this part of the investment narrative.

Approval of spot XRP ETFs may spark interest from retail and institutional investors

Multiple asset management firms are preparing to launch exchange-traded funds that directly track the price of XRP. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has received at least eight proposals for these funds, with final decisions for the majority expected by late October 2025. Eric Balchunas of Bloomberg estimates there is a 95% chance of approval.

Spot XRP ETFs could make it easier for both individual and institutional investors to access XRP, bypassing the complexity and high fees commonly associated with crypto exchanges. Investors would no longer need to maintain separate crypto accounts or bear substantial transaction costs. This increased accessibility could help drive up the price of XRP.

For example, Bitcoin has gained 140% since the SEC approved spot Bitcoin ETFs about two years ago. In fact, the iShares Bitcoin Trust had the most successful ETF debut ever in terms of capital inflows, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. Although I doubt spot XRP ETFs will attract quite as much attention, I believe XRP’s value could more than double within five years.

Nevertheless, potential buyers should be mindful of the risks involved. XRP has shown extreme price volatility, having dropped by more than 35% from its all-time highs on three separate occasions in the last three years. Those who are uncomfortable with significant price fluctuations should steer clear of this cryptocurrency.