Ripple's native digital currency – XRP – has officially surpassed Tether (USDT) to take the top 3 global market capitalization position, only behind Bitcoin and Ethereum. With a current market cap of $164.29 billion, XRP is showing an impressive comeback, attracting the attention of both large and small investors around the world.

In this context, a well-known analyst and influencer in the cryptocurrency world – Alex Cobb – has made a shocking prediction: XRP could reach $22.54 by December 2025.

Where Does the Confidence in the $22 Price Come From?

In a recent post, Alex Cobb used a humorous meme to send a serious message: those who have ever doubted XRP may regret it when the price of this coin exceeds $22. According to Cobb, the potential breakout of XRP cannot be underestimated in the context of a rapidly changing market.

If XRP truly reaches a price of $22.54, it means an increase of nearly 767%, equivalent to 8 times the current price. At that point, XRP's market capitalization could reach $1.32 trillion, even surpassing Ethereum to become the second-largest cryptocurrency in the world.

Even figures who have criticized XRP have begun to change their views. Peter Brandt – a veteran trader who once doubted XRP – now believes that the market cap of this coin could reach $502 billion, and many optimists even think that this number could be higher.

History of "Shattering" Doubts

XRP is not a stranger to proving the mistakes of skeptics. From November 2024 to January 2025, XRP experienced a meteoric rise with a 7-fold increase, causing many critics to reevaluate their assessments.

Even Davinci Jeremie, one of the famous Bitcoin supporters, has to admit that XRP could surpass the $20 mark, emphasizing the strength from the community and Ripple's technological advancements.

Whales Buying In Droves: A Signal of a Strong Price Increase?

Recently, on-chain data has shown that the number of "whales" holding XRP has reached a record high. Currently, there are 2,743 wallets holding over 1 million XRP, the largest number in history. These wallets currently control nearly half of the total circulating XRP – a sign that large investors are preparing for the next price increases.

Meanwhile, the price of XRP has surged to $2.80 after a 10% jump in just one day, causing $31 million in short-sell orders to be liquidated, surprising the bearish traders.

After reaching a peak of $2.97, XRP has slightly adjusted and is currently stabilizing above the support level of $2.75. If buying pressure continues to rise and the price surpasses $2.90 with high volume, XRP could quickly reach $3.20 or higher in the short term.

Conclusion: XRP – Golden Opportunity or Potential Risk?

Although the cryptocurrency market is always volatile and nothing is guaranteed, with the current factors – from the buying power of whales, changing opinions from experts, to the growth momentum of market capitalization – XRP is facing a rare opportunity to break out.

The price point of $22.54 may seem far-fetched at this time, but with what has been and is happening, it is no longer an impossible feat. Smart investors will closely monitor the next movements of XRP in the coming time – as great opportunities often arise when the majority still remain skeptical.