XRP drew fresh attention on May 14, 2025, after pushing past the $2.50 barrier and climbing to $2.58, marking a 5.3% gain for the day. This move came with a spike in trading volume, which surged to $10.7 billion, highlighting renewed market interest. The price bounce started near $2.47, a key area supported by both a rising trendline and the 38.2% Fibonacci level on short-term charts.
XRP is also staying above the 50-period Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $2.41, a level that often points to a positive trend. If the price keeps climbing, breaking past $2.56 could lead to the next target around $2.70.
XRP Boosted by Heavy Trading in South Korea
XRP’s recent jump is getting a big push from South Korean traders. On Upbit, the country’s biggest crypto exchange, more than $1 billion worth of XRP changed hands in just 24 hours—more than Bitcoin or Ethereum during the same time. Other local platforms like Bithumb, Coinone, and Korbit also saw a strong rise in XRP trading, showing growing interest nationwide.
Ripple Settlement Brings Legal Clarity
XRP’s latest price rise is being supported by a big step forward in Ripple Labs’ legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). After years of back-and-forth, Ripple has agreed to settle with the SEC by paying a reduced fine of $50 million—down from the originally proposed $125 million. This agreement brings some closure to a long-running case that raised doubts about whether XRP should be classified as a security.
In another important move, the SEC has dropped its appeal against a judge’s decision that XRP trading on public exchanges doesn’t count as securities transactions. Ripple, in turn, has also withdrawn its appeal regarding a separate ruling on $728 million in institutional sales. These legal resolutions offer much-needed clarity for Ripple, easing investor concerns and improving the overall outlook for the project.
Improved Sentiment Opens Door to New Opportunities
With the legal uncertainty now fading, confidence around XRP and the Ripple ecosystem is returning. One crypto analyst described the settlement as the removal of a major burden that had weighed on XRP for years. The cleared legal path could help Ripple focus more on growth, partnerships, and new offerings.
Excitement is also building around the possibility of an XRP-backed exchange-traded fund (ETF), now that regulatory concerns have eased. While nothing has been confirmed yet, many in the crypto space see this as a likely next step in expanding XRP’s presence in traditional markets.
Market Momentum and ETF Buzz Lift XRP Outlook
XRP is gaining extra support from a strong upswing across the crypto market. With Bitcoin pushing past $100,000, confidence has returned to digital assets in general—and XRP is one of the tokens catching the boost. Alongside this, growing talk of a potential spot XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) is adding to the excitement, especially after Ripple’s legal issues cleared up. Many see the ETF angle as a major turning point that could shape XRP’s future value.
XRP Could Hit $12.50 by 2028, Says Standard Chartered
In an optimistic prediction that has sparked renewed enthusiasm among XRP supporters, Standard Chartered, a major UK bank, has suggested that Ripple’s native token, XRP, might soar to $12.50 by the close of 2028.
This forecast, shared by Geoffrey Kendrick, the bank’s Global Head of Digital Assets Research, outlines a gradual increase in XRP’s value. It starts with a possible rise to $5.50 by the end of 2025, progressing to $8 in 2026, $10.40 in 2027, and ultimately reaching $12.50 within the following three years.
Final Thoughts
XRP is experiencing a boost in both price and market interest, thanks to a mix of legal clarity, high trading volumes—especially in South Korea—and overall positive market trends. With Ripple’s legal challenges now resolved, and the possibility of an XRP-backed ETF on the horizon, the future for the token looks promising. Experts are optimistic about XRP’s growth, with some predictions suggesting it could reach $12.50 by 2028, pointing to continued expansion and new opportunities for Ripple in the years ahead.
