Global banking giant Standard Chartered has significantly reduced its price targets for several major cryptocurrencies, citing a broad market selloff that has erased nearly $2 trillion in value since October 2025. The bank's Digital Assets Research desk slashed its end-2026 target for XRP by nearly 65%, from $8 to $2.80. Despite this dramatic cut, the bank maintained its long-term 2030 forecast for XRP at $28.
The downward revisions were not limited to XRP. Standard Chartered also trimmed its targets for other leading assets: Bitcoin's 2026 target was reduced from $150,000 to $100,000, Ethereum's from $7,000 to $4,000, and Solana's from $250 to $135. The bank's Global Head of Digital Assets Research indicated these changes reflect short-term pressures affecting the entire crypto market as digital assets struggle to maintain previous highs.
The news comes as XRP trades around $1.40, down over 40% from its January 2026 peak of $2.40 and approximately 60% below its July 2025 high near $3.40. The price decline has been mirrored in XRP ETF assets, which have fallen from a peak of $1.6 billion in early January to around $1.0 billion. However, February has seen net ETF inflows of approximately $45 million, including $7.5 million in the past week.
Market dynamics show whale activity is capping recovery attempts. XRP exchange inflows spiked ahead of a recent move to $1.55, at which point whales sold their holdings during a weekend session with thinner liquidity. Following this rejection, XRP has dipped to $1.40 for three consecutive days, with its 30-day loss now at 27%. Analysts point to the $1.15–$1.20 range as the likely next support zone, which previously acted as a strong demand area.
Investor reaction to the downgrade has been divided. Some view it as a realistic adjustment to market conditions, while others see it as a disappointment for earlier bullish expectations. Traders note that the December PCE inflation data, due February 20, is the next major catalyst. A cooler-than-expected print could ease pressure on risk assets like crypto, while a hot reading might push XRP back toward $1.35 and potentially test the $1.20 support level.
