XRP Could Rise to $75 with Institutional Demand and Utility

XRP is drawing growing attention as analyst Rob Cunningham forecasts dramatic potential for XRP, fueled by increasing institutional interest, blockchain utility, and financial infrastructure advancements. According to Cunningham, the cryptocurrency could reach between $5 and $15 in the short run, with a long-term target as high as $75, based on present market developments and anticipated adoption trends.

A major factor behind these optimistic projections is Ripple’s recent acquisition of prime brokerage firm Hidden Road. The firm, handling over $10 billion in daily trading activity, could significantly increase demand for XRP, particularly if transactions are settled over the XRP Ledger. Cunningham believes that if even 30% of Hidden Road’s daily trades are processed through XRP, that would amount to around $3 billion each day, or over $1.5 trillion annually.

This level of demand could absorb nearly 2.7 billion XRP tokens, amounting to 5% of the current circulating supply. Cunningham suggests such reduced availability may trigger considerable price movement, potentially lifting XRP to $5–$15 within a short timeframe.

The long-term forecast hinges heavily on extended use and broader acceptance. Institutional frameworks like exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and regulated futures markets are beginning to offer new pathways for global investment. Cunningham emphasizes 11 applications for XRP ETFs awaiting decision from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), along with the imminent launch of CME Group’s XRP futures on May 19, 2025. These products are touted as essential vehicles for enabling hedge funds and institutional players to gain exposure to XRP within a compliant, secure environment.

Backing this sentiment is the early success of products like the Teucrium 2x Long Daily XRP ETF, which quickly amassed $35 million in assets under management. These developments represent a formal entry point for global capital into XRP, reinforcing its long-term potential. A key short-term development to monitor will be the SEC’s verdict on Grayscale’s spot XRP ETF, anticipated by May 22.

Another aspect strengthening Ripple’s position is its alignment with the ISO 20022 standard, the global protocol set to facilitate over 80% of high-value international payments by 2025. While XRP is not officially certified under this protocol, Ripple—the technology behind the digital currency—is already ISO-compliant. Cunningham and other experts argue that XRP’s interoperability with ISO 20022-compliant systems makes it a strong candidate for cross-border financial settlement, especially in remittance corridors.

Trillions of dollars move daily through ISO 20022-enabled systems, with over $434 billion in daily transaction volumes. Cunningham points out that such an infrastructure, once fully matured and leveraged by financial institutions, could utilize XRP as a fast and cost-efficient backend settlement layer.

While XRP has yet to be directly integrated into the FedNow network, the U.S. government’s overall move toward real-time payments enhances the case for digital assets like XRP. These systems emphasize speed, security, and low-cost transfers—characteristics XRP natively supports. Cunningham argues that as the financial ecosystem embraces faster transaction rails, XRP stands to benefit from parallel adoption, possibly becoming a preferred settlement asset for banks and fintech institutions modernizing their payment infrastructure.

Tying these factors together—treasury integration, increased institutional access, protocol compliance, and macro adoption trends—Cunningham remains confident in XRP’s future trajectory. He encapsulates this belief with a bold prediction:

“If XRP isn’t between $30 and $75 by the end of 2025, I’d be in utter disbelief,” he said.

Related: Expert Advice: Sell XRP If You’re Confused

Only time will tell whether XRP will achieve this ambitious valuation. But with growing use cases, regulatory clarity, and financial product offerings gaining traction, XRP appears to be strategically positioned for significant growth in the evolving global payments space.