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Standard Chartered has cut its year-end price target for XRP by approximately 65%, lowering the forecast to $2.80 from an earlier projection of $8. The revision comes amid a broader slump in the cryptocurrency market, described by the bank as one of the worst downturns in nearly four years, with analysts citing persistent weakness across digital assets.
XRP has recently tested lower levels, falling to $1.16, its lowest point since late 2024, before attempting a partial recovery. Geoffrey Kendrick, the bank’s global head of digital assets research, pointed to ongoing price challenges and warned that further declines remain possible in the near term.
The downgrade for XRP aligns with Standard Chartered’s adjustments to other major cryptocurrencies. The bank reduced its year-end targets for Bitcoin and Ethereum, bringing Bitcoin’s forecast down from $150,000 to $100,000 and Ethereum’s from $7,000 to $4,000. Solana’s year-end target was also lowered, from $250 to $135.
Despite the price weakness, recent fund flow data indicates continued institutional interest in XRP. CoinShares’ weekly report showed XRP inflows of $33.4 million over the last week, down from $63.1 million in the prior week.
At the same time, assets in XRP-related exchange-traded funds (ETFs) declined by about 40%, falling from $1.6 billion to around $1 billion between January and mid-February. The reduction suggests investors have become more cautious as the broader crypto market has weakened.
Standard Chartered’s decision also coincides with a wider pullback in crypto ETF holdings. The article notes that XRP’s ETF remained comparatively more attractive than Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, which saw higher outflows. Some analysts have suggested this may reflect a rotation into specific altcoins such as XRP rather than a full exit from the market.
Bank of America reported owning 13,000 shares of the Volatility Shares XRP ETF, indicating continued exposure even as market conditions deteriorate.
XRP’s recent trading has been marked by sharp volatility. Over the weekend, the price rose from $1.53 to a high of $1.66—an increase of about 9% within five hours—before dropping back to $1.44 by the evening.
The swings were attributed largely to trading activity on Upbit, South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. Upbit recorded more than $600 million in XRP trading volume during the period, surpassing both Bitcoin and Ethereum on the platform, which contributed to rapid price movements.
Dom data cited in the article suggested that Upbit’s order books may have intensified sell pressure on the XRP market, helping drive the decline after the brief rally. Further investigation into Upbit’s activity found no signs of manipulation or wash trading, indicating the moves were linked to genuine market participation from both retail and institutional traders.
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