Standard Chartered has cut its 2026 target for XRP from $8 to $2.8, a sharp 65% reduction that puts the token back in the center of market attention. The revision adds new pressure to an asset already dealing with weak price action, while traders continue to weigh near-term stress against longer-term adoption themes.
The downgrade was part of a broader reset across major crypto assets. According to the report, the bank also reduced its 2026 targets for Bitcoin to $100,000, Ethereum to $4,000, and Solana to $135. The article said the broader crypto market has fallen around 15% since the start of 2026, reflecting a more cautious institutional stance.
XRP has struggled to regain momentum after its 2025 peak
XRP entered 2025 with strong momentum and reached a peak of $3.65 in July, helped by improved regulatory clarity and growing optimism around ETFs. By early 2026, the token was trading near $1.80 to $2.00, briefly moving toward $2.40 before weakness across the wider market pulled it lower.
At the time of writing in the source article, XRP was trading near $1.48, up 1.17% over 24 hours. Even with that daily gain, it remained down nearly 28% on the month and more than 45% year over year. The report described repeated difficulty in reclaiming the $2 level.
ETF outflows and derivatives data are shaping the near-term view
Spot weakness has not fully erased interest in XRP-linked funds. The article said XRP ETFs had seen about $500 million in outflows since January, yet still held more than $1.14 billion in total assets under management. It also noted seven active funds and a weekly net inflow of 3.5 million coins.
Standard Chartered also pointed to bearish derivatives signals. Reported data showed $13.5 million in long liquidations, a $245.7 million decline in open interest, and negative funding rates. Together, those numbers suggest perpetual futures traders are still driving short-term price direction.
Macro stress and delayed legislation are weighing on risk appetite
The article linked the early-2026 crypto selloff to inflation concerns and tighter liquidity, conditions that pushed more money out of risk assets, including XRP. It also cited rising war-related tensions and sanctions among major economies as part of the backdrop, including the impact of hardline policies under US President Trump.
Another factor in the report was the delay around the CLARITY Act. The measure had been expected to bring more clarity to crypto oversight, but progress has stalled as major banks and crypto platforms remain divided over stablecoin yield provisions. In that setting, bullish forecasts made in late 2025, when regulatory sentiment was improving, are being revised.
Long-term utility arguments in Japan and South Korea remain in focus
Even with short-term pressure, the article did not dismiss XRP’s longer-term utility case. It said Japan continues integrating XRPL into its regulated fintech ecosystem, with backing from SBI Holdings, which owns more than 9% of Ripple Labs.
The report also mentioned quiet accumulation in South Korea, where large players were said to have added hundreds of millions of XRP during periods of fear. It framed that activity as a sign of strategic positioning. Based on the source, XRP’s next move depends on whether derivatives pressure eases and ETF flows stabilize; if macro conditions worsen, volatility may continue.