The Crypto Desk desk. Editor: Sam Daodu.
As we approach the end of 2026, XRP (CRYPTO:XRP) faces a significant challenge, having sunk 47.9% so far this year. On November 15, XRP trades at 96 cents, after hitting its lowest close of the year at 91 cents on November 14. Over the past month, it has dropped 26.9%. With this backdrop, what does a realistic XRP price prediction look like for year-end?
Standard Chartered’s year-end target only widens the gap. The bank slashed its $8 call to $2.80 in February, and to reach that revised target, XRP would need an incredible 192% surge from its current level.
XRP Trades Below All Three of Its Key Moving Averages
XRP trades below all three of its major moving averages, with its 20-day average at $1.18, its 50-day average at $1.31, and its 200-day average at $1.26. Traders often interpret a coin trading below these averages as being in a downtrend. In fact, XRP has dipped as low as 89 cents during trading in November.
Moreover, XRP is 73.8% below its all-time high of $3.65, achieved on July 17, 2025. The recent peak was a 90-day high of $1.57, reached on September 22.
Increasing supply is another factor complicating things. There are 63.5 billion XRP in circulation, out of a total cap of 100 billion, resulting in a market value of $60.9 billion and making it the sixth-largest cryptocurrency. Ripple releases about 1 billion XRP from escrow each month and then locks most of it away again. This means that to maintain the same price, XRP requires more investor money as supply increases.
For example, when XRP closed at $1.04 on June 25, its market cap was $64.9 billion. However, when it closed at the same price on November 12, the market cap had risen to $66.1 billion.
Standard Chartered’s $2.80 Is Still the Newest Bank Target
Geoffrey Kendrick, who led Standard Chartered’s crypto research when the bank set the target, lowered its year-end XRP target from $8 to $2.80, citing XRP’s sluggish price performance. To reach $2.80 at the current supply levels, XRP would need a market cap of roughly $178 billion—almost three times its current value.
This $2.80 target remains the most recent forecast from a bank or asset manager, while the nearest named analyst level is lower. Crypto analyst Ali Martinez has pointed to 80 cents as a potential downside target based on current trends, the level behind Grok AI’s prediction for how low XRP could fall.
Demand for funds holding XRP has also slowed down. By November 13, U.S. spot XRP ETFs had seen total net inflows of $1.79 billion. However, net assets declined from $1.57 billion on October 21 to $1.15 billion, with the largest daily outflow of $10.4 million on November 9.
Three Scenarios for XRP on December 31
The low scenario has a significant risk factor. If XRP drops below its recent low, the next crucial support level would be 63 cents, which was seen in November 2023, as we laid out in how low XRP could go below $1.
Every scenario above the low one hinges on Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC), which trades around $64,664—below its 200-day average of $73,043. Historically, XRP’s price movements have often followed Bitcoin’s trends, meaning a return to $2 seems like a target for 2027. Still, Standard Chartered maintains a long-term forecast of $12.60 for 2028.
Where Will XRP Finish the Year?
We think XRP will probably close the year somewhere between its recent low of 91 cents and its 20-day average of $1.18. Reaching Standard Chartered’s target of $2.80 seems unlikely. Key Federal Reserve decisions on December 9 may also influence the market. Fed funds futures price in an 88.7% probability of a quarter-point interest rate hike, which could draw funds away from crypto into cash and bonds.
So what does this XRP price prediction hinge on? For XRP’s price trajectory to improve, it needs to close consistently above $1.18, supported by a week of ETF inflows. If daily closes drop below 91 cents after the Fed’s decision, the 80-cent level might soon become a reality.
XRP Price Prediction FAQ
How High Will XRP Go in 2026?
The realistic ceiling before year-end appears to be the recent high of $1.57. Standard Chartered’s $2.80 target would require a 192% rally over the next six weeks.
What Is the XRP Forecast for 2026?
The latest named target from a bank is Standard Chartered’s $2.80. On the downside, analyst Ali Martinez has indicated the possibility of reaching 80 cents.
Will XRP Go Up in 2026?
A positive year seems unlikely. XRP began 2026 at $1.84, above even the high scenario discussed.
Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.
Sam Daodu is a crypto analyst and the editor of 24/7 Wall St.'s Crypto Desk, where he covers Bitcoin, XRP, Ethereum, Solana and the altcoins investors search for most. His work focuses on price levels, spot ETF flows, on-chain data and the regulatory decisions that move crypto markets, written so a first-time buyer and a seasoned trader can both use it.
Sam has written about crypto professionally since 2019 and has published more than 2,000 articles. Before joining 24/7 Wall St., he wrote for crypto media outlets and Web3 companies and ghostwrote for crypto founders and token launches. His analysis is syndicated on Yahoo Finance, MSN and AOL and has been cited by other crypto news sites. He also founded MacLabs Marketing, a content and personal branding agency for crypto founders and executives.
When he isn't reading charts, Sam is usually at the gym or watching One Piece, a series he maintains has better tokenomics than most altcoins.
