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Standard Chartered projects XRP may surpass Ethereum in market cap by 2028, citing cross-border utility, legal clarity, and institutional interest.
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Ethereum’s upcoming Pectra upgrade could challenge XRP’s momentum, aiming to boost ETH’s efficiency and possibly drive its price to $12,000.
Following the price forecast previously discussed in a CNF update, where ETH’s price was flagged as being in potential danger, a recent analysis from Standard Chartered Bank has projected that XRP, the native token of the Ripple network, could overtake Ethereum (ETH) in market capitalization by the end of 2028.
This forecast is rooted in XRP’s expanding role in cross-border and cross-currency payments—a sector experiencing significant growth.
Geoff Kendrick, the bank’s Head of Digital Asset Research, emphasized that current global trade dynamics present opportunities for digital assets like XRP to thrive.
In addition, a tweet by DustyBCCrypto shared: that Standard Chartered says XRP could hit $5.50 by end of 2025 and overtake Ethereum by 2028. The bank sees XRP dominating cross-border payments and surging to $12.50 by 2028.
💥BREAKING
STANDARD CHARTERED SAYS XRP COULD HIT $5.50 BY END OF 2025 AND OVERTAKE ETHEREUM BY 2028
THE BANK SEES XRP DOMINATING CROSS BORDER PAYMENTS AND SURGING TO $12.50 BY 2028 pic.twitter.com/Y7ibhivQ1Q
— DustyBC Crypto (@TheDustyBC) April 8, 2025
XRP’s Legal Triumph and Market Implications
According to Barron’s, after a protracted four-year legal battle, the SEC dropped its appeal against Ripple, effectively concluding the $1.3 billion lawsuit that had accused the company of conducting an unregistered securities offering.
This resolution has removed a significant cloud of uncertainty, allowing Ripple to concentrate on expanding its ecosystem and fostering partnerships. The market responded positively to this development, with XRP’s price experiencing a surge—reflecting renewed investor confidence.
Ethereum’s Competitive Landscape
While XRP’s prospects appear promising, Ethereum continues to innovate and expand its capabilities. The upcoming Pectra upgrade, slated for release in the first quarter of 2025, aims to significantly enhance Ethereum’s scalability and efficiency.
Moreover, industry experts, including Dr. Sean Dawson of Derive, project that such advancements could propel ETH’s price to as high as $12,000 within the year. This anticipated growth underscores Ethereum’s resilience and its ongoing efforts to maintain a competitive edge in the rapidly evolving digital asset landscape.
Market Dynamics and Current Valuations
Standard Chartered’s projection of XRP potentially surpassing Ethereum by 2028 hinges on several factors, including legal clarity, institutional adoption, and the broader evolution of the cryptocurrency market.
While XRP’s recent developments position it favorably, Ethereum’s ongoing upgrades and established presence suggest a dynamic and competitive landscape in the years ahead.
At the time of writing, Ethereum (ETH) is trading at $1,461.39, reflecting a 6.88% decrease over the past day and 21.81% in the past week, according to CoinMarketCap data. See the ETH price chart below.