Financial analyst Jake Claver has made a bold prediction for Ripple's future, forecasting that by 2040, the company will become the "Goliath, the Amazon of payments and banking infrastructure." He suggests this dominance could arrive even sooner, citing Ripple's strategic acquisitions in 2025 and 2026, which include GTreasury for cash management, Ripple Prime for clearing, Rail for stablecoin issuance, and Ripple Custody (formerly Metaco and Standard Custody). Claver describes Ripple as already functioning as a global infrastructure provider for backend payments and settlement.
On the future of XRP holdings, Claver estimated that 30 to 50% of retail holders with significant amounts would liquidate at least a portion before the token reaches $10, as such a price would represent a life-changing sum for many of the approximately 250,000 people globally who hold more than 3,000 XRP. He notes, however, that the holders he works with directly understand the longer-term thesis and are less likely to sell early, aided by products that allow them to collateralize XRP for returns without selling.
Separately, digital asset firm Canary Capital has highlighted XRP's growing role as an indispensable bridge currency in the modern financial system. The firm emphasized XRP's utility in optimizing international value transfers, making them faster and cheaper than traditional systems like SWIFT by eliminating the need for pre-funded accounts through its On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) protocol. Key institutions already utilizing this technology include SBI Remit, Santander, and Tranglo.
Canary Capital argues that XRP's fixed supply, high speed, and energy efficiency give it clear competitive advantages, positioning it as a real complement or alternative to SWIFT. The firm asserts that XRP is "no longer a niche asset, but a pillar of the new financial infrastructure," with its integration into Asian and European banks marking a pivotal shift. Some industry projections, echoed by Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse, suggest XRP has the potential to climb higher in the crypto rankings, with analysts speculating it could even surpass Ethereum if institutional traction continues.
