Ripple has applied for a national banking charter in the US, reigniting attention on the future of XRP and the company's ambitions to bridge traditional finance with blockchain.
What Ripple's Bank License Means
If approved by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Ripple would operate under both state and federal oversight. The charter would allow the company to:
* Expand services nationwide without needing dozens of state licenses. * Directly custody reserves for its RLUSD stablecoin with the Federal Reserve, if its master account application is also approved. * Deepen institutional partnerships by providing regulated custody, payment, and settlement services. * Enhance trust and compliance in the eyes of banks and large enterprises.
This move comes as Congress advances the GENIUS Act, which sets new standards for stablecoin issuers and places the OCC in charge of regulating major players.
XRP Price Forecast: Bulls vs. Bears
News of the banking license has already boosted XRP, which jumped 3–5% following the announcement and is trading near $2.30, testing key resistance levels. Technical analysts see a bullish pattern forming, with targets ranging from $2.65 to $3.04 if XRP can break above $2.34.
Some models factoring in institutional adoption and historical breakouts suggest possible surges to $5 or even higher by year-end.
| | | | | --- | --- | --- | | **Analyst/Model** | **Short-Term Target** | **Year-End/Long-Term Target** | | Cointelegraph | $2.65–$3.04 | $5+ | | Finder Q3 Panel | $3.06 | $6.45 by 2030 | | Egrag Crypto | $5.50–$11.75 | $18 (cycle top) | | ChatGPT | $10.91 (theoretical) | - |
However, bearish voices point to significant hurdles, like regulatory delays, the ongoing SEC litigation, market selling pressure, and potential resistance from traditional banks.
RippleNet and Institutional Adoption
While RippleNet and its On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) solution have seen global adoption, especially in Asia and with partners like SBI Holdings, most US banks are not yet using XRP directly for settlement. However, the banking license could open doors for more regulated large-scale institutional use.
On-chain metrics show XRP Ledger processing over 8 million payments weekly, with positive money flow and RSI indicators suggesting smart money accumulation. Yet, true institutional adoption remains the key to sustaining higher price levels and breaking out of the current trading range.
Ripple's bid for a US banking license is more than just a compliance move—it’s a high-stakes gamble that could redefine XRP’s future. Bulls see a path to $5 and beyond; skeptics warn of regulatory quicksand. As the OCC weighs its decision, all eyes are on the charts, the courtrooms, and the corridors of Washington.
