XRP is finally seeing the clarity it has been striving for over the last five years. The SEC’s final appeal ended in August 2025, affirming a previous ruling from July 2023 that declared exchange-based sales of XRP are not securities. With this legal uncertainty lifted, the market is now focusing on assets that are considered cleaner and more secure.
Will XRP Keep Rising?
A pressing question remains: will XRP continue its upward trend, or has the recent rally stalled following its court win?
Regulatory Clearances Boost XRP
The long litigation era officially wraps up in 2025. The SEC withdrew its appeal on August 7, 2025, confirming its decision from 2023 that transactions in the secondary market for XRP are not securities. This development allowed XRP to regain liquidity in the U.S., where it had faced restrictions for a significant time. Major exchanges are back on board, and institutional investors are regaining trust in trading the token.
Investment is also returning. As of August, CME futures open interest surpassed $1 billion, marking the most extensive derivatives infrastructure XRP has seen since its inception. The creation of new institutional products is on the rise as regulatory clarity improves.
The positive momentum leading into 2026 feels tangible and is stronger than what XRP has experienced throughout the recent bear market.
Institutional Movement Grows
Institutional players and multi-strategy hedge funds are taking another look at XRP. Since the conclusion of the appeal, there has been a marked improvement in liquidity, with tighter spreads evident on both spot and futures exchanges.
Speculation around ETFs is on the rise. Several issuers promptly updated their filings after the legal dust settled, pushing U.S. regulators to view XRP similarly to Bitcoin and Ethereum. With the right approval, demand for this asset could shift dramatically overnight.
In addition, Ripple’s ODL flows have been steadily increasing in 2025, and more banks in Europe and Southeast Asia are transitioning from pilot projects to regular operations. The introduction of the RLUSD stablecoin, backed by BNY as a custodian, adds a new layer of payment demand on top of existing infrastructure.
Underlying Risks Persist
However, there are still macroeconomic concerns. If volatility increases, factors such as liquidity cycles, Federal Reserve policy, and the overall appetite for crypto could stymie growth. XRP is also up against competition from Stellar, USDC, and the evolving SWIFT network, which will affect its long-term adoption. Moreover, the unlocking of escrow continues to increase the supply that XRP needs to absorb through actual utilization.
These risks could influence how high XRP can go in the next growth phase.
XRP Price Projections for 2025-2026
A cautious estimate suggests that XRP might stabilize between $1.50 and $2.25. The basic scenario anticipates either ETF approval or a surge in ODL demand, potentially pushing prices into the $3 to $5 range. A more optimistic outlook would require strong institutional movement and a vibrant crypto market, opening doors to prices between $8 and $15.
Key Takeaways
XRP is entering an important new phase. The regulatory clarity we’ve sought since 2020 is now a reality, and the ecosystem is rapidly expanding. The future trajectory of XRP will hinge on how well institutional demand, cross-border payment utilities, and likely ETF approvals align in 2026. Fundamentally, we’re stronger than we’ve been in years, even if market volatility remains a concern.
Currently, XRP is trading at $2.1958.
