Ripple’s XRP is expected to soar to never-before-seen levels, according to a market prediction made by a prominent finance figure.

The fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market cap could dethrone Ether in market valuation, the expert stated. Notably, Ether currently holds the third position, but the market expert has expressed conviction that XRP could claim this position over the next three years. 

Geoffrey Kendrick, the Global Head of Digital Assets Research at Standard Chartered, is behind the bullish forecast. He expects his prediction to come to fruition in 2028 and has outlined a handful of fundamental factors as catalysts for the asset’s long-term growth. 

At press time, Ether’s market cap sits at a value of $305.9 billion, while XRP’s market cap totals at $127 billion. XRP must add more than $178.9 billion to its current market value to successfully overthrow Ether. However, the cryptocurrency market is constantly growing, and as such, XRP bulls will have to work harder as Ether’s valuation soars annually. 

Although Kendrick’s prediction is bold and might seem unattainable, he points to Ripple’s current trajectory, highlighting its legal victories against the SEC as a notable development in the Ripple and XRP ecosystem. 

The expert asserts that institutional adoption is on the rise—an observation that coincides with the recent launch of a highly anticipated XRP ETF. It is also worth noting that XRP has also attained a 360% surge in market value over the last year. 

Additionally, Kendrick cited the notations of Brad Garlinghouse, the CEO of Ripple, who remarked that XRP will constitute 14% of SWIFT’s cross-border payment industry within the next five years—a declaration that further validates XRP’s appeal to larger institutions within and outside the crypto space.

At the time of this report, XRP is trading at $2.15. Market selloffs appear to have kept altcoins stagnant this week, and XRP is amongst many nursing losses, particularly 3.40% at press time.