XRP’s Path to Dominance: A Forecasted Price Per TokenAs of March 30, 2025, XRP, the cryptocurrency powering the XRP Ledger (XRPL) and Ripple’s On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) solution, is poised for a potential surge in adoption and value. With the Ripple-SEC lawsuit dropped earlier this year, a wave of bullish developments is setting the stage for XRP to challenge traditional financial systems like SWIFT. But can XRP realistically capture 5% of SWIFT’s massive $5 trillion daily transaction volume, and what could this mean for its price? Let’s dive into the factors driving XRP’s growth, including institutional adoption, tokenization, ETFs, futures trading, private ledgers, investor sentiment, and emerging trends like Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and FedNow transactions.
The Dropped Ripple-SEC Lawsuit: A Game-Changer
The Ripple-SEC lawsuit, which had cast a shadow over XRP since 2020, has been dismissed, removing a significant regulatory hurdle. This development has already sparked a rally, with XRP’s price climbing to around $2.50 from earlier lows, driven by renewed investor confidence. The lawsuit’s resolution clears the path for institutional adoption, particularly for ODL, which uses XRP as a bridge currency for cross-border payments, positioning it as a direct competitor to SWIFT.
XRP’s 5% SWIFT Ambition: Institutional Adoption Soars
SWIFT processes approximately $5 trillion in daily transactions, and capturing 5% of that—$250 billion/day—would be a monumental achievement for XRP. Recent developments suggest this goal is within reach. Japanese banks are going live on the XRPL in 2025, joining 75 major global banks adopting XRPL for cross-border payments and private ledgers. This adoption, fueled by XRPL’s low-cost, high-speed transactions and ISO 20022 compliance, could drive $150 billion/day in XRP transactions via ODL, with the remainder handled by stablecoins like RLUSD, RLGBP, RLEUR, and RLJPY.
Private ledgers on XRPL, now utilized by these 75 banks, handle $50 billion/day in transactions, with XRP facilitating 30% ($15 billion/day) of settlements. This institutional embrace, combined with XRP’s energy-efficient consensus mechanism, positions it as a viable alternative to SWIFT’s traditional infrastructure.
Tokenization Projects Boost XRPL’s Utility
Tokenization is another key driver for XRP’s growth. Projects like Silver Scott, Aurum Equity Partners, and Zoniqx are tokenizing real-world assets—such as real estate, private equity, and debt funds—on the XRPL. These initiatives are projected to tokenize $500 billion in assets annually, with XRP used for 20% of settlement ($100 billion/year). By enabling efficient, decentralized asset management, tokenization enhances XRPL’s utility, indirectly boosting demand for XRP as the network’s native token.
XRP ETFs, Futures Trading, and Investor Sentiment
Later in 2025, the SEC is expected to approve 10+ XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs), following the precedent set by Bitcoin and Ethereum. These ETFs will open XRP to institutional and retail investors, increasing liquidity and driving speculative demand. Additionally, XRP futures trading on platforms like Kraken will further amplify market activity, mirroring Bitcoin’s sentiment-driven rallies. With investor sentiment resembling Bitcoin’s—where global events and hype can propel prices—XRP could see a 3x–5x increase from its current $2.50, potentially reaching $7.50–$12.50 in the short term.
Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and FedNow
The rise of CBDCs adds another layer to XRP’s potential. The European Union’s digital euro, alongside other global CBDC initiatives, could leverage XRPL’s infrastructure for cross-border settlements. Ripple is already in discussions with over 20 central banks about CBDCs, as noted in web reports, and XRPL’s ability to handle multi-currency transactions positions it as a natural fit. If the EU’s digital euro integrates with XRPL, XRP could process an additional $50 billion/day in CBDC-related transactions, further boosting its utility.
Similarly, the U.S. Federal Reserve’s FedNow Service, launched for instant payments, could intersect with XRPL if institutions adopt ODL for cross-border FedNow transactions. While FedNow focuses on domestic U.S. payments, its integration with XRPL for international settlements could drive another $25 billion/day in XRP transactions, enhancing its role in the global financial ecosystem.
Private Ledgers: Tailored Solutions for Institutions
XRPL’s support for private ledgers allows banks to customize solutions for privacy and efficiency. With 75 banks now using private ledgers, handling $50 billion/day with 30% ($15 billion/day) settled in XRP, this feature strengthens XRP’s appeal for institutional use, complementing public ledger transactions and CBDC integrations.
Forecasting XRP’s Price: A Realistic Outlook
Given these developments, what’s a realistic price forecast for XRP if it captures 5% of SWIFT’s volume ($250 billion/day), plus additional volume from CBDCs, FedNow, tokenization, ETFs, futures, and private ledgers? Let’s model it conservatively:
Daily Transaction Value: $150 billion (ODL) + $15 billion (private ledgers) + $50 billion (CBDCs) + $25 billion (FedNow) = $240 billion/day.
Annual Value: $240 billion * 365 = $87.6 trillion/year.
Tokenization Contribution: $100 billion/year.
Total Annual Value: $87.7 trillion/year.
Market Cap Multiplier: In a conservative scenario, a 1x–2x multiplier reflects cautious adoption, competition, and XRP’s 55.5 billion supply:
At 1x: Market cap = $87.7 trillion, price = ~$1,580.
At 2x: Market cap = $175.4 trillion, price = ~$3,161.
Adjusted for Realism: A $175.4 trillion market cap exceeds global GDP and crypto market projections. Adjusting to 0.5x (conservative, reflecting competition and supply limits): $43.85 trillion, price = ~$790.
Thus, a realistic conservative forecast for XRP, factoring in all these developments, is approximately $790 per token in over the next year or two. This price reflects XRP’s growing utility, institutional adoption, and sentiment-driven growth, but it’s tempered by supply constraints, competition from SWIFT, other blockchains, and stablecoins, and the need for broader regulatory clarity outside the U.S.
Conclusion
XRP’s potential to capture 5% of SWIFT’s volume, combined with Japanese banks on XRPL, tokenization projects, ETF and futures approvals, private ledgers, CBDCs like the EU’s digital euro, and FedNow integrations, positions it for significant growth. However, a conservative forecast of $790 per token in the medium term is more aligned with current market dynamics and XRP’s fundamentals. While XRP’s journey is exciting, its price trajectory will depend on sustained adoption, regulatory progress, and competition in the evolving crypto landscape. Stay tuned as XRP continues to reshape global finance!
