XRP holds near $3 amid ETF approvals and policy shifts
Ripple's XRP token is trading around $3.04, up 10% week-over-week, buoyed by anticipated spot ETF approvals and a supportive U.S. regulatory environment under the new administration. Institutional interest is rising, with whales accumulating tokens ahead of key decisions expected between October 18 and 25. Analysts forecast potential gains to $4.50 by early 2026.
XRP has defended the $2.88–$2.94 support zone after dipping to $2.70 twice in September from highs of $3.20. The token's market capitalization stands at $182.7 billion, ranking it as the fifth-largest digital asset. Open interest has stabilized at $7.6 billion, down from $8.96 billion on September 19, indicating a reset of leveraged positions before the recovery.
A breakout above $3.13 could push XRP toward $3.40–$3.60, while failure to hold $2.95 risks a drop to $2.80. The policy environment has improved significantly with the SEC's rescission of Staff Accounting Bulletin 121, allowing banks to offer crypto custody. President Trump’s executive order aims to position the U.S. as the “crypto capital of the world,” and Paul Atkins, a digital-asset advocate, has been appointed SEC Chair. This contrasts with the previous enforcement-focused approach under former Chair Gensler.
Institutional strategists call this a “liquidity unlock moment” for digital assets. Geoffrey Kendrick of Standard Chartered forecasts XRP reaching $12.50 by 2028, a 325% upside from current levels. Ripple launched its U.S.-pegged stablecoin, Ripple USD (RLUSD), in December 2024, enhancing payment adoption while transactions still incur XRP fees. The company serves over 400 financial institutions, with its On-Demand Liquidity platform processing billions in cross-border settlements annually, mainly in Asia and the Middle East.
Seven spot ETF applications are pending, with rulings due between October 18 and November 14; consensus expects approval of at least five, led by BlackRock, Fidelity, and Invesco. Whale addresses holding ≥10 million XRP increased holdings by 2.4% in late September, with 220 million XRP moved to cold wallets since mid-September. Analysts project October targets of $3.18 median, with Q4 2025 at $3.00–$3.60 on ETF approval, and 2026–2028 base case of $5–$6, extending to $8–$10 in a bull scenario.