XRP is capturing renewed interest from investors as Ripple’s latest initiatives align with discussions surrounding an insightful, eight-year-old prediction from former Chief Technology Officer David Schwartz. This resurgence in XRP’s appeal is amplified by the recent inclusion of Hidden Road, a prime brokerage platform acquired by Ripple, in a critical directory used by conventional financial institutions.
The National Securities Clearing Corporation (NSCC) recently added Hidden Road Partners CIV US LLC to its Market Participant Identifiers directory. This directory, managed by the NSCC—an entity crucial to U.S. financial markets—facilitates clearing, settlement, and risk management services for trades between brokers. Being part of this directory indicates that Hidden Road is now firmly integrated into the infrastructure utilized by traditional financial institutions for post-trade processing.
Ripple finalized its acquisition of Hidden Road in April 2025, completing the $1.25 billion transaction later that year. The rebranding of Hidden Road to Ripple Prime aims to establish it as a global multi-asset prime brokerage. Ripple has indicated that the platform’s post-trade activities are expected to connect with the XRP Ledger (XRPL) in the future.
Adding to the excitement, Schwartz recently revisited an analysis shared eight years prior, addressing criticisms about Ripple’s technology. He noted that while banks could utilize Ripple’s payment solutions without integrating XRP, the digital asset could nonetheless gain value as a bridge for international transfers. Under Schwartz’s vision, XRP could emerge as a crucial intermediary currency, potentially leading to institutions holding XRP as working capital for global transactions, thereby increasing the asset’s demand.
As Ripple presses further into traditional finance, some analysts are optimistic about XRP potentially revisiting the $3 mark. For example, Alex Carchidi, a crypto analyst at The Motley Fool, posited that XRP might meet that price again in 2026. He emphasized that XRP has previously traded above this level, noting an all-time high of $3.65 earlier in 2025. Key factors influencing this potential price resurgence include ongoing development of the XRPL Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) sidechain launched in 2025 and Ripple’s strategic movements in institutional financial markets.
However, not all analysts share this bullish sentiment. Dominic Basulto, also from The Motley Fool, cautioned against the possibility that XRP may face downward pressure. He pointed out that despite the current interest surrounding Ripple, XRP has significantly fallen from its 2025 peak and is currently trading in the mid-$1 range. Basulto expressed concerns that XRP could even slip below the psychologically significant $1 level if market conditions worsen.
CCN analyst Abiodun Oladokun provided additional insights, noting that while certain indicators—like a declining Network Value to Transactions (NVT) ratio and diminishing exchange activity—may suggest strengthening demand on the XRP Ledger, bearish trends remain dominant. He observed that the Elder-Ray Index has shown sustained negative pressure since mid-January, indicating persistent selling sentiment. If these negative trends continue and demand fails to substantially pick up, Oladokun suggested that XRP could drop to around $1.11 by March. However, if market conditions improve, the token might break through the $1.42 resistance level, potentially moving towards $1.61.
Currently, XRP is trading at approximately $1.40, reflecting a 12% decline over the past month. The evolving landscape surrounding Ripple’s initiatives and the broader cryptocurrency market will play critical roles in determining XRP’s future price trajectory. As analysts remain divided, all eyes are on Ripple’s continued institutional integration and its potential impact on XRP’s value.
