Ripple’s long-anticipated IPO could be a defining moment not just for the company but for the entire crypto market, particularly for XRP.

Crypto angel investor Dennis Liu shared this perspective in a recent commentary on Circle’s IPO performance. Comparing Circle’s public debut to Ripple’s IPO, Liu suggests that Ripple’s IPO could trigger a wave of mainstream momentum for XRP.

Circle’s Performance Sets the Stage

Liu highlighted Circle’s strong IPO performance as a major indicator of investor appetite for crypto-related equities. Initially priced at $31 per share, Circle stock now trades at around $116, a nearly fourfold increase. As a result, Circle’s valuation has expanded from its original $7 billion target to over $25 billion.

With this valuation, Liu stressed that Circle’s success demonstrates robust and growing demand from traditional finance for publicly listed crypto companies. He believes Ripple could see similar or even greater success.

Ripple’s Delayed IPO is Strategic, not a Setback

Ripple has long been rumored to be preparing for an IPO, but the company has repeatedly delayed its plans. Most recently, Ripple confirmed it would not go public in 2025, stating that an IPO is not an immediate priority. 

Instead, its current focus is on mergers and acquisitions. The company recently launched a $700 million share buyback to offer liquidity for early investors rather than pursuing an IPO.

However, Liu believes this is merely a strategic shift. He suggests that the company may be targeting 2026 or beyond rather than abandoning the idea altogether.

What sets Ripple apart is its unique relationship with the XRP token. If Ripple goes public, it will mark the first time a major crypto asset is directly associated with the stock of a publicly traded company. This pairing could lead to a historic market development.

The Next Wave of Crypto-Financial Products

Liu speculates that if XRP and Ripple stock show any form of correlation or interaction, it could pave the way for a new class of hybrid crypto-stock offerings. He further suggests that future IPOs may even bundle tokens and equity together, changing how projects raise capital.

Essentially, a successful Ripple IPO could legitimize the concept of token-equity combination, potentially opening the floodgates for other crypto companies to follow suit. 

This scenario becomes more plausible with increasing regulatory clarity under the new Trump administration and rising institutional interest in the crypto market. Circle’s performance is clear evidence of this trend.

How Could XRP Perform in the Wake of a Ripple IPO?

While XRP operates independently, Ripple’s performance often influences its price. A May analysis by The Crypto Basic suggested that XRP could experience a massive price surge if Ripple’s valuation climbs to the level of tech giants like Google, Apple, or Microsoft post-IPO.

Ripple’s estimated pre-IPO valuation stands at $10.88 billion, significantly below Microsoft ($3.376T), Apple ($3.155T), and Google ($2.021T).

Using current figures, AI chatbot Grok from xAI estimated future XRP prices based on Ripple reaching top-tier tech valuations:

• Google level ($2.021T): XRP at $440.46
• Apple level ($3.155T): XRP at $687.47
• Microsoft level ($3.376T): XRP at $735.58

These projections are based on a 12.77 ratio between XRP’s current market cap and Ripple’s valuation. However, Grok cautioned that these estimates are highly speculative. The analysis assumes XRP’s supply remains fixed and scales proportionally with Ripple’s valuation—an assumption that may not hold. 

More realistic projections for XRP by 2030 range between $3 and $20, but these also seem highly conservative.

Crypto analyst EGRAG Crypto has dismissed recent claims that XRP has already peaked in its current cycle.

In a recent commentary, he suggested that the crypto asset could still reach between $10 and $27, challenging suggestions that the cycle top sits at $3.40, a price XRP claimed during its uptrend in January 2025.

EGRAG Dismisses Claims XRP Has Already Reached Its Cycle Top

EGRAG based his argument on a conversation with an old friend from his university days, a blockchain professor he identified as Dr. Y. While Dr. Y holds a PhD in computer engineering and teaches blockchain at a U.S. university, he insists that $3.40 marks the peak for XRP in this cycle. 

Notably, EGRAG revealed that he disagreed with this notion, saying his friend understands the technology but misses how markets move based on emotion and sentiment. According to him, he reminded Dr. Y of their university days when Dr. Y handled the coding while he delivered the presentations, and both of them earned top grades. 

He said the same logic applies today. Specifically, while Dr. Y sees the tech side clearly, he does not fully understand how emotional momentum drives crypto prices. EGRAG stressed that this emotional aspect matters just as much as charts.

EGRAG disclosed that Dr. Y brought up global concerns like war, growing U.S. debt, and changing geopolitical power as bearish pointers. However, he dismissed these points as distractions fueled by mainstream narratives. 

He argued that people focus too much on doom-and-gloom headlines and miss the bigger opportunity. EGRAG believes the world stands at the edge of its most explosive era of growth, thanks largely to blockchain.

Areas Tokenization Could Help in RW Applications

He then discussed how tokenization could release trillions in real-world value. The analyst called attention to multiple areas where tokenization may help in real-world applications, arguing that this could help the prices of assets like XRP.

First, he explained that global equities, estimated at $100 trillion in 2024, could see a major change as tokenization increases liquidity and allows for fractional ownership. Also, derivatives, with a total market size of over $600 trillion, could also benefit by reducing risk and improving efficiency.

Speaking further, he pointed to real estate as another example, with the U.S. market worth about $50 trillion and global property valued at roughly $280 trillion. Tokenization could make buying, selling, and managing property faster and more accessible. 

Interestingly, EGRAG also discussed the $27 trillion locked in Nostro/Vostro accounts used for cross-border payments. Several market commentators have argued that XRP could streamline this system and release more efficient liquidity.

Art, Collectibles, IP, Gaming and Healthcare 

Also, the art and collectibles market, estimated at $1.7 trillion, could open up through token-based ownership. Debt instruments, totaling around $250 trillion, could become more transparent and cost-effective. 

Meanwhile, intellectual property licensing, worth about $5 trillion, might become easier to manage and transfer. Supply chains, insurance policies, and even music rights, worth $1 trillion, $5 trillion, and $20 billion respectively, could benefit from blockchain-backed ownership and automation.

He also highlighted gaming assets worth $200 billion, energy credits estimated at $50 billion, and healthcare data valued at $100 billion. EGRAG’s commentary suggests that these sectors all stand to gain from better privacy, traceability, and liquidity.

XRP Targets $10 to $27 as Cycle Top

Notably, these areas still remain untapped, and assets like XRP could benefit from reaching them. Meanwhile, EGRAG pointed out that Dr. Y warned of a potential 85% crash from the $3.4 price he believes is the asset’s cycle top. If this materializes, the drop could lead to a price of $0.42. 

Nonetheless, EGRAG believes this is unlikely. While an 85% crash could occur, he suggests it might occur from a higher price, as XRP could rise to at least $10, possibly reaching as high as $24 or even $27. If XRP claims the $24 price level, an 85% drop would lead back to the $3 region.

Edoardo Farina, founder of Alpha Lions Academy and a vocal supporter of XRP, boldly claims that owning at least 1,000 XRP could be life-changing.

He supports this view with geopolitical and financial developments, arguing that XRP will play a significant role in the future of global finance.

Farina’s thesis centers on a key upcoming milestone: the official launch of the European Central Bank’s (ECB) digital euro, slated for October 2025. He emphasizes that Christine Lagarde, ECB President, has made it clear that all European institutions will be involved in rolling out the digital euro as “the currency of the future.”

With central banks across Europe preparing for the Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) era, Farina believes XRP could play an instrumental role. He claims the TIPS system (Target Instant Payment Settlement), used across Europe, shows ties to the XRP Ledger. However, this remains unconfirmed.

Ripple’s Ecosystem Connections Run Deep

Farina argues that the XRP Ledger isn’t just theoretically capable; the Central Bank of France may have already tested it for digital payments. Furthermore, Palau’s digital currency, which uses the euro and is built on XRPL, may serve as a testbed for broader use in the Eurozone.

Furthermore, Farina points to Ripple’s potential acquisition of Circle, the issuer of USDC, one of the few stablecoins compliant with Europe’s new MiCA regulations. This move, Farina argues, could position Ripple to dominate the regulated stablecoin market and cement its infrastructure within the EU’s financial system.

A Comparison to Stellar’s Big Moment

To further illustrate XRP’s potential price reaction, Farina draws a parallel to Stellar (XLM). He noted XLM surged over 200% following the announcement that Ukraine would build its CBDC on the Stellar network. He speculates that XRP could experience a similar, if not greater, rally if the digital euro is confirmed to run on the XRP Ledger.

While NDAs may delay public announcements, Farina warns that once the news breaks, “the train will leave the station fast.”

Holding 1,000 XRP as a Strategic Move

Based on these speculative scenarios, Farina insists that holding 1,000 XRP is essential for those serious about their financial positioning. At today’s price of around $2.18, accumulating 1,000 XRP would cost approximately $2,180.

In Farina’s view, this could be a strategic decision for investors who believe in the asset’s long-term role in global finance. He frames this as a “non-negotiable” goal for those aiming to future-proof their portfolios.

The view is that XRP could reach anywhere from $100 to $1,000 in the coming years, potentially putting those who hold 1,000 tokens on the path to realizing their millionaire dreams. However, this remains highly speculative, as it could take several decades for XRP to reach those lofty heights.

Yet, Farina warns that once institutions start FOMOing in, retail investors may find themselves priced out.

“Ignoring XRP or not holding at least 1,000 would be the definition of insanity,” he concludes.

Multiple XRP millionaires will emerge if XRP reaches the $20 price level, while the rich list maintains its current positioning.

Multiple Analysts Predict XRP to $20

Davinci Jeremie, an early Bitcoin adopter and XRP critic, suggested in March that although he is not a fan of XRP, he expects XRP to soar above $20 in the future. Moreover, as far back as July 2024, market analyst XRP Shark insisted that XRP was still on track to reach a $20 price.

Also, in November 2024, market technician CryptoBull suggested that XRP could claim $20 if it reclaimed its 2017 top against Bitcoin. Interestingly, in a March 2025 commentary, community pundit Edoardo Farina claimed that XRP reaching $20 would only be the beginning of its uptrend.

Amid these multiple projections of an XRP to $20 rally, investors are looking to position themselves to take advantage of the run when it eventually materializes. However, those who would benefit the most are the ones set to attain millionaire status when this occurs.

For context, for an XRP investment to soar to $1 million when XRP hits $20, it must contain at least 50,000 XRP. At the current price of $2.18, these XRP tokens would be worth $109,000. Nonetheless, those who procured these tokens in early November 2024 amassed them with $25,000, a massive discount.

How Many XRP Millionaires Will Emerge When XRP Hits $20?

Data from the community-driven XRP rich list indicates that wallets holding at least 50,000 XRP amount to 71,337. However, some of these wallets are already XRP millionaires at the current price. Specifically, those who are not yet XRP millionaires but could join the exclusive group with XRP reaching $20 are less than 39,320.

Of this figure, there are 27,119 wallets holding between 50,000 and 75,000 XRP. Meanwhile, those with balances ranging from 75,000 to 100,000 amount to 11,019. Further, investors with 100,000 to 500,000 XRP tokens number 28,301. All these cohorts of addresses will make $1 million and above when XRP claims $20. 

Specifically, should XRP reach the $20 price, wallets holding 50,000 to 75,000 XRP will be sitting on $1 million to $1.5 million. Those with 75,000 to 100,000 XRP will hold a bag worth $1.5 million to $2 million. Meanwhile, investors with 100,000 to 500,000 tokens will see their investments reach $2 million to $10 million.

Notably, XRP’s journey to $20 would not be an easy one, that is, if the asset ever reaches this level. From the current price of $2.18, XRP will need to rise 817% to claim $20. Analysts at crypto platform Telegaon believe this feat is attainable by 2028, three years from now.

A crypto pundit and market commentator has commended the patience of XRP holders amid years of extensive market struggles.

With a near 600% rally from November 2024 to January 2025, XRP was the best-performing asset among the top cryptocurrencies during the Trump-led market-wide rally, as confirmed by CNBC. However, while some might consider XRP holders lucky, they fail to acknowledge the years of agony suffered by these investors.

John Squire, a market commentator, recently called attention to this. According to him, if patience was a crypto token, XRP holders would have already assumed billionaire status. This is due to their ability to hold the asset through seven years of price struggles.

XRP Faced a Turbulent Period After 2018

For context, after surging over 68,000% from March 2017 to January 2018, XRP price stumbled considerably. This downturn continued for over two years, with XRP reaching a new low of $0.1140 by March 2020. Notably, this marked a massive 97% crash from the $3.8 all-time high.

When XRP attempted a recovery push in November 2020, soaring 177% that month, it encountered a fundamental issue. Specifically, the SEC’s lawsuit against Ripple began the month after, triggering a 67% crash in December, XRP’s highest-ever monthly loss.

The asset witnessed a bearish campaign after December 2020, as several U.S. and Canadian exchanges ceased trading. Massive selloffs also engulfed the asset, triggering intense bearish pressure. As a result of this, XRP missed the 2021 bull run and faced relegation below the top 5 list of largest assets.

While other assets posted new gains in 2021, XRP failed to leverage the uptrend due to the bearish pressure, only rising to $1.96 in April 2021, 92% away from its 2017/2018 all-time high. 

XRP Holders Remained Unperturbed Amid the Struggles

Notably, despite the bearish campaign, most XRP investors held strong. Interestingly, the number of XRP holders continued to increase during this turbulent period. Specifically, data from Santiment confirms that there were about 986,000 XRP holders in January 2018 amid the all-time high.

However, despite the downturn that followed, the number of XRP holders quickly crossed the 1 million threshold and continued to increase. Over the next few years, amid the price collapse and the SEC lawsuit, existing holders held strong, and the market welcomed new entrants. 

Between January 2018 and December 2022, XRP welcomed over 3.53 million new holders. Ironically, the growth pace saw a remarkable uptick from November and December 2020 when the SEC lawsuit began. This pace dropped after the effects of the May 2022 Terra collapse.

Reward for Patience?

Now, XRP is attempting to make up for years of what many have believed to be an elaborate price suppression campaign. The near 600% rally from November 2024 to January 2025 is the first step toward this recovery effort.

Multiple analysts believe a much larger upsurge is imminent, citing XRP’s 2017 price action. Analysts like BarriC believe their patience will be rewarded, and not at meager prices such as $2. Last month, he stressed that he did not hold through all these years to sell at $2, eyeing a lofty target of $100.

XRP price could witness a massive boost if the XRP Ledger handles 100% of the transaction volume processed by Hidden Road.

Notably, Ripple’s expansion ambitions led to the acquisition of Hidden Road, a well-known prime brokerage firm, for $1.25 billion last month. This move confirmed Ripple’s growing focus on serving institutional clients and expanding its presence in traditional finance. 

Ripple Confirms Use of RLUSD for Post-Trade Settlement

Interestingly, following the acquisition, Ripple confirmed that Ripple USD (RLUSD), its proprietary stablecoin, will handle Hidden Road’s post-trade transactions, placing the stablecoin at the center of this new strategy.

Since RLUSD also runs on the XRP Ledger (XRPL), most transactions will pass through the XRPL network. While XRP won’t settle these trades directly, the asset is necessary as a transaction fee. The network burns these fees, which slowly reduces the total amount of XRP in circulation.

Notably, Hidden Road processes around $3 trillion worth of transactions each year. If all of that activity moves to the XRPL, the network could see a sharp increase in traffic. To better understand what this might mean for XRP’s price, we asked Grok, the AI chatbot from xAI, for an assessment.

Grok Presents Factors That Could Impact XRP Price Growth

Grok explained that predicting the exact price is difficult because several factors play a role. These include how much of Hidden Road’s volume actually lands on the XRPL, how many transactions it involves, how much XRP gets burned, and how investors react to the development. Ultimately, it predicted a possible rise in price to a range of $3.5 to $28.

However, according to Grok, the burn rate on its own won’t have a huge effect. If $3 trillion worth of transactions result in about one billion operations on XRPL, that would burn around 100,000 XRP each year. 

At the current price of $2.16, that’s about $230,000, barely a dent in the total supply of around 58 billion XRP. Even if activity increases tenfold, the burned amount still remains small compared to the overall supply.

However, Grok stressed that real value growth could come from rising demand and greater adoption. If RLUSD helps bring more institutional transactions to XRPL, XRP’s role as the fuel that powers the network becomes more important. This utility could raise demand for XRP, especially if financial institutions start building more use cases around the XRPL.

Further, Grok also pointed out that market sentiment could push the price higher. Ripple’s acquisition of Hidden Road has already triggered excitement in crypto circles. If more investors and analysts start viewing this move as a sign of Ripple’s strength in institutional finance, XRP could benefit from that optimism.

XRP Price if XRPL Handles All of Hidden Road’s Transactions

Specifically, regarding price predictions, Grok presented a few possibilities. In a realistic scenario, where XRPL sees steady growth and RLUSD gains traction, XRP could climb to between $3.50 and $4.50 within the next six to twelve months. 

If adoption picks up faster and market enthusiasm grows, XRP might reach between $5 and $10 over the next year or two. Some highly optimistic predictions go as high as $28.55, but Grok noted that reaching that level would require massive adoption and an overall crypto market surge.