Standard Chartered Cuts XRP Price Target by 65%, Predicts Further Crypto Market Declines
February 16, 2026 – Edinburgh – Standard Chartered, the British investment bank known for its extensive financial market analyses, has significantly lowered its price forecast for XRP, the cryptocurrency associated with Ripple. In a recent investor note, the bank slashed its end-of-year XRP price target by 65%, reducing it from $8 to $2.80 amid continuing bearish trends in the broader cryptocurrency market.
Challenging Market Conditions Prompt Forecast Revision
Geoffrey Kendrick, Standard Chartered’s global head of digital assets research, described the recent price movements in digital assets as "challenging, to say the least." He stated that the bank expects "further declines near-term" and that they have consequently reduced their price forecasts across multiple crypto assets.
The updated outlook follows a severe selloff in the crypto market in February, which has been the worst market downturn seen in nearly four years. Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, fell by approximately 28% over the past month, touching a low near $60,000 before showing some recovery.
XRP has felt the impact as well, briefly dropping to $1.16 — its lowest price point in over 15 months — and remains approximately 59% below its all-time high reached in July. Despite a partial rebound, XRP has still declined around 28% during the last month.
XRP’s Volatile Start to 2026
The stark downgrading marks a notable turn from earlier this year when XRP showed strong momentum. The token surged by 25% in the first week of January, benefiting from inflows into XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and positive regulatory developments. Notably, the amount of capital locked in XRP ETFs reached a record $1.6 billion on January 5, according to crypto tracking platform SoSoValue. However, this figure has since fallen by roughly 40% to just over $1 billion as of mid-February.
Broader Crypto Market Price Cuts
Standard Chartered’s bearish stance isn’t limited to XRP. The bank has also revised downward its year-end targets for other leading cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin’s forecast was cut from $150,000 to $100,000, Ethereum’s from $7,000 to $4,000, and Solana’s from $250 to $135. Despite this, Kendrick noted potential long-term benefits for XRP, highlighting that it could keep pace with Ethereum due to shared prospects linked to advancements in stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets.
Regulatory Developments: A Key to Recovery?
One of the most significant potential catalysts that could help XRP regain lost ground is the passage of the Clarity Act—a comprehensive cryptocurrency market legislation currently under consideration by the US Senate.
On February 12, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed optimism that the Clarity Act would facilitate recovery in the crypto sector. Katherine Dowling, president of Bitcoin Standard Treasury Company, recently told DL News that XRP stands to gain the most should the legislation pass successfully.
However, progress on the bill has faced delays amid disagreements between banking executives and crypto industry leaders over certain provisions. Ripple’s chief legal officer, Stuart Alderoty, reported a “productive session” at the White House on February 10 and urged lawmakers to capitalize on current bipartisan momentum to enact sensible regulations that protect consumers and advance the market.
Outlook and Next Steps
While the crypto market continues to navigate considerable volatility and uncertainty, the combination of regulatory clarity and ongoing technological development may provide the foundation for renewed investor confidence. Until then, Standard Chartered advises caution, forecasting further declines across key crypto assets including XRP in the near term.
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