Standard Chartered slashes 2026 XRP price target to $2.80, citing volatility, ETF outflows, and macro headwinds, signaling caution across markets.
Standard Chartered has sharply reduced its 2026 price target for XRP. The bank lowered the forecast by about 65%, setting a new target of $2.80. Moreover, it marked a caution in the entire cryptocurrency area with the continuous volatility and eroding sentiment.
Bank Lowers Crypto Forecasts After Market Rout
According to Standard Chartered, it has been unusually challenging for the recent performance of digital assets. As a result, projections on a number of leading cryptocurrencies were revised by the bank. The cited ETF outflows and broader macroeconomic headwinds as prime factors behind the downgrade.
Related Reading: XRP Slides Below $1.60 After $50M Upbit Selloff
Geoffrey Kendrick, the bank’s global head of digital assets research, commented on conditions. Geoffrey Kendrick said recent price action has been “challenging, to say the least.” Furthermore, he cautioned that declines near term may persist before any meaningful recovery develops.
In early February 2026, the markets of cryptocurrencies faced their worst selloff in almost 4 years. As a result, Bitcoin briefly dropped to $60,000 before rebounding. Subsequently, prices settled into the $65,000 to $70,000 trading range.
Other digital assets followed this pressure to the downside across exchanges. XRP briefly fell to $1.16, the lowest price in 15 months. Meanwhile, the token later recovered modestly and traded around the $1.5 level.
Standard Chartered’s revision lowered the target for XRP by the year-end of 2026 to $2.80. Previously, the bank had forecast a much higher amount of $8.00. Therefore, the cut is one of the most significant forecast cuts this year.
Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana Targets Also Reduced
The bank also reduced the projection for other major cryptocurrencies in its universe in its coverage. Bitcoin’s 2026 target declined from $150,000 to $100,000. Likewise, Ethereum’s projection fell from $7,000 to $4,000 under updated assumptions.
Additionally, Solana’s expected valuation of $2026 was revised down by analysts. The new target is $135, down from an earlier estimate of $250. As a result, the general view is one that is more conservative across the asset class.
ETF-related capital flows played an important role in the reassessment that took place. Analysts noted persisting outflows from crypto-linked investment products. As a result, lessened institutional demand was a contributor to increased market instability.
Macroeconomic pressures added to the confusion of risk-sensitive assets worldwide. Elevated interest rates dissuaded speculative strategies. Therefore, cryptocurrencies came under more selling pressure in addition to equities and emerging market instruments.
Despite the downgrade, Standard Chartered retained cautious optimism over longer-term structural drivers. Analysts addressed institutional adoption trends in the digital finance infrastructure. Moreover, tokenization efforts were also gaining interest among financial institutions and technology companies.
The bank identified XRP and Ethereum as potential beneficiaries of stablecoin expansion. Growth on tokenized real-world assets also supported selective optimism. Nevertheless, analysts emphasized that it’s too early to know when recovery will take place and that it’s highly dependent on data.
Regulatory developments may affect sentiment changes in the latter part of 2026. A case in point was the proposed Clarity Act under consideration in the U.S. Senate. If passed, the legislation could offer more clarity for digital asset oversight.
Near-term risks, though, are still prominent in Standard Chartered’s assessment. Kendrick warned Bitcoin could retest levels near $50,000 temporarily. Similarly, Ethereum might approach $1,400 before a possible stabilization phase emerges.
The outlook helps highlight just how quickly sentiment can change within the digital asset ecosystems. Forecast revisions are based on changing liquidity conditions and macroeconomic reality. As such, investors are still keenly watching ETF flows, policy signals, and price stability indicators.
