Summary
⚈ Investor optimism is growing as approval odds reach 77% and whale accumulation increases.
⚈ Analysts are eyeing a potential $15 target for XRP but caution against market uncertainties.
After the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) moved to end its legal battle with Ripple, attention has again shifted to the agency regarding a decision on an investment product related to XRP expected in June.
Specifically, in late April, the SEC extended its review of Franklin Templeton’s application for a spot XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) to June 17, 2025, a date that could be pivotal for the token.
Franklin Templeton is among the largest asset managers seeking approval for an XRP-based ETF. If approved, the fund would allow retail and institutional investors to gain exposure to XRP through traditional brokerage accounts, potentially driving the asset’s price upward.
In comparison, when spot ETFs for Bitcoin (BTC) were approved in January 2024, prices surged as institutional money poured in. Ethereum (ETH) also experienced a significant rally amid ETF-related speculation.
Consequently, investors now expect XRP to be next in line for a similar breakout, especially within the large U.S. market.
While Brazil previously approved the world’s first XRP spot ETF, this had little impact on the token’s price due to the smaller size of Brazil’s financial markets.
XRP’s legal clarity
Adding fuel to the fire is the recent resolution of Ripple’s long-standing legal dispute with the SEC. On May 8, the parties settled, with Ripple agreeing to a reduced $50 million fine and all appeals withdrawn.
This outcome lifted the sales restrictions that had hampered Ripple’s U.S. operations for years, paving the way for broader institutional involvement and boosting confidence in XRP’s regulatory clarity.
Furthermore, optimism has continued to build with new, more crypto-friendly leadership at the SEC and ETF approval odds on the market betting platform Polymarket, which are currently standing at 77% for 2025.
Meanwhile, amid the growing excitement, whales have shown increasing confidence in XRP’s long-term prospects through continued accumulation. For example, whales accumulated 800 million XRP throughout April, a significant potential catalyst for future price growth.
XRP price analysis
As of press time, XRP was trading at $2.36, down nearly 2% over the past 24 hours but up approximately 7.8% on the weekly timeframe.
At the same time, crypto trading expert Ali Martinez suggested in a May 11 X post that XRP could be poised for further gains, potentially targeting the $15 mark.
He cited a long-term symmetrical triangle pattern that has formed since 2018, with $15 as the pattern’s highest projected target. While the outlook is bullish, caution remains necessary, as such patterns can also produce false signals, especially given XRP’s sensitivity to broader market sentiment.
Featured image via Shutterstock
