XRP Climbs to New All Time High at $3.65 after 7 Years

XRP, the digital asset native to Ripple’s payments network, vaulted to a fresh record of $3.65 on Friday, finally eclipsing the high it set in January 2018 and capping a remarkable revival after years in the legal and regulatory wilderness. The move came at the close of a week dominated by crypto‑friendly legislation on Capitol Hill and the near‑resolution of Ripple’s battle with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), sending trading volumes and social‑media chatter to their highest levels in years.
Legislative tailwinds bolster sentiment
Confidence in the wider digital‑asset sector has been building since the US House of Representatives approved the Digital Markets Clarity Act and its companion, the GENIUS Act, on Tuesday evening. Although both bills must still clear the Senate, their passage in the lower chamber marked the clearest sign yet that US lawmakers are prepared to delineate which tokens fall under securities or commodities law.
For market participants, the prospect of predictable oversight proved catalytic. Bitcoin briefly revisited $120,000, ether touched a ten‑week high, and smaller‑capitalisation tokens basked in the renewed risk appetite. Yet none matched XRP’s ferocious advance: the token rallied nearly 40% on Wednesday alone as futures traders scrambled to adjust positions, while spot turnover on major exchanges more than doubled compared with the previous week.
Legal clouds are finally clearing
Regulatory optimism dovetailed with fresh relief on the legal front. Last month, Ripple and the SEC agreed to drop outstanding appeals in their four‑year dispute after a federal judge ruled that sales of XRP on secondary markets did not constitute unregistered securities offerings. With no appeal pending, US exchanges began relisting the asset en masse this week, widening retail access and attracting algorithmic strategies that thrive on newly liquid pairs.
Ripple’s Chief Executive, Brad Garlinghouse, hailed the agreement and vowed to redouble efforts to position XRP as the go‑to bridge asset for cross‑border settlements. Legal specialists observed that the absence of ongoing litigation removes a key impediment for US‑domiciled institutional investors, many of whom had shunned the token for fear of retroactive penalties.
Analysts eye higher targets, but warn of volatility
With the long‑standing $3.40 ceiling now history, forecasters were quick to revisit their models. Analysts at Standard Chartered reiterated a year‑end target of $5.50, arguing that a spot‑XRP exchange‑traded fund could secure regulatory blessing once the SEC appoints a permanent chair. Several independent researchers went further, noting that previous bull cycles saw XRP appreciate more than tenfold after breaking its prior peak; on that basis, technical projections as high as $20‑$23 by mid‑2026 have begun to circulate.
Still, seasoned traders urged restraint. Because the token has already gained roughly 70 per cent in July, funding rates on perpetual‑futures contracts have turned sharply positive, meaning speculators must pay a premium to maintain long positions. Elevated leverage, they cautioned, often precedes explosive reversals if catalysts fail to materialise on schedule.
Wider market reaction and next catalysts
Beyond price charts, XRP’s resurgence has reignited debate about the shape of the current crypto cycle. Bitcoin’s share of total market capitalisation slipped below 43 per cent for the first time in eighteen months, suggesting investors are again willing to rotate into alternative narratives such as payment‑focused protocols. Meanwhile, layer‑one rivals Solana and Cardano registered only modest gains, fuelling arguments that capital is flowing selectively towards assets perceived to have clearer real‑world utility.
Two forthcoming events are likely to determine whether momentum endures. First, the Senate is due to begin committee hearings on the Digital Markets Clarity Act later this month, giving legislators an opportunity either to accelerate or stall the House’s progress. Second, asset manager VanEck is expected to file an S‑1 registration for a spot‑based XRP ETF. Approval of either milestone could trigger fresh impetus; failure on both counts might invite a classic “sell the news” retracement.
Conclusion
XRP’s leap to $3.65 represents a milestone for holders who have waited seven years to revisit price‑discovery territory. Legislative advances and a winding‑down of Ripple’s courtroom drama have removed two of the heaviest anchors on sentiment, while exchange relistings have injected much‑needed liquidity. Yet the very speed of the rally, amplified by leveraged futures, leaves the market vulnerable to sharp pull‑backs if political or regulatory timelines slip. Bulls believe a new chapter of institutional adoption is beginning; sceptics counter that much good news is already in the price. Over the coming weeks, lawmakers’ votes and ETF filings will reveal whether XRP’s renaissance is durable or merely the latest twist in crypto’s volatile narrative.
Comments
Post a Comment