XRP Price Slumps as Standard Chartered Turns Bearish After Market Rout

Key Insights:

  • Standard Chartered cuts XRP price target 65% after February crypto market downturn and broad selloff.
  • XRP crypto drops 28% in a month as ETF holdings fall 40% from January record high.
  • US Clarity Act progress remains in focus as lawmakers debate crypto market structure reform.

The XRP price outlook shifted after Standard Chartered cut its forecast by 65% following February’s severe crypto market selloff. The British bank reduced its 2026 year-end target from $8 to $2.80. Analysts cited recent market weakness and warned of further near-term declines across digital assets.

The revision comes during one of the strongest crypto downturns in almost four years. Bitcoin dropped 28% over the past month, hitting $60,000 before recovering. XRP crypto followed the broader market decline, posting losses similar to those.

Geoffrey Kendrick, Standard Chartered’s global head of digital assets research, said recent price action has been challenging. He added that the bank expects additional near-term declines and has lowered forecasts across the asset class.

XRP Price Target Cut by 65% After February Selloff

The XRP price had earlier benefited from strong momentum in early 2026. The token gained 25% in the first week of the year. ETF inflows and regulatory developments supported that rally.

On January 5, assets locked in XRP exchange-traded funds reached a record $1.6 billion, according to SoSoValue data. However, that figure fell to just above $1 billion by February 13. The drop represents a 40% decline in ETF holdings over the past few weeks.

Amid the broader rout, XRP fell to $1.16. That marked its lowest level in 15 months. Although the token later rebounded, it remained down roughly 28% over the past month.

At the time of reporting, XRP traded at $1.48. The price declined by 0.43% over 24 hours. Intraday trading ranged from approximately $1.44 to $1.52.

The session opened near $1.52 before sellers pushed the token below $1.46. XRP later formed a recovery pattern with higher lows during early trading hours. However, resistance emerged around the $1.50 to $1.51 zone, where multiple breakout attempts failed.

Broader Crypto Forecasts Revised Lower

Standard Chartered did not limit its revisions to XRP crypto. The bank lowered its Bitcoin year-end target from $150,000 to $100,000. It also reduced Ethereum’s target from $7,000 to $4,000 and Solana’s from $250 to $135.

Kendrick said the XRP price is likely to keep up with Ethereum. He said both assets could benefit from the development of stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets. Despite that comment, the bank’s near-term outlook is cautious.

The decline in the crypto market affected several crypto assets over the past few weeks. Analysts called the slump the worst rout in the market for almost four years. Price weakness spread to major tokens and associated investment products.

Legislative Developments Remain in Focus

Market participants continue to monitor the Clarity Act in the United States. The bill aims to establish a broader regulatory framework for digital assets. Some industry executives view its passage as a potential catalyst for recovery.

On Thursday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the Clarity Act’s passage could help the crypto market recover. Lawmakers had previously stalled progress following disagreements between banking chiefs and crypto executives.

On February 10, Ripple’s chief legal officer, Stuart Alderoty, said he had a productive session at the White House. He said that there is still bipartisan momentum behind legislation on the crypto market structure. He encouraged lawmakers to act as the legislative window remains open.

Source: https://www.thecoinrepublic.com/2026/02/17/xrp-price-slumps-as-standard-chartered-turns-bearish-after-market-rout/