XRP, the digital asset associated with Ripple Labs, has recently experienced an impressive rise, attracting the attention of analysts and investors alike.

The cryptocurrency, which has faced significant bullish volatility in recent months, posted a notable intraday gain of 10.04% over the weekend, marking its biggest single-day increase since the start of the year. As XRP rises towards $2.6, experts are predicting further gains, with some predicting a possible price rise to $3 or even beyond.

Bullish chart patterns and Peter Brandt’s prediction

Veteran chart analyst Peter Brandt has been a key figure in the growing optimism surrounding the XRP price. On January 12, Brandt shared a chart that showed a clear breakout of the bull flag pattern on XRP’s daily timeframe, indicating a promising uptrend for the cryptocurrency.

Peter Brandt predicts a gentle rise in XRP price above $3. Source: Peter Brandt about X

Brandt, who was previously cautious about XRP, now describes it as “the frontrunner” and believes the cryptocurrency’s market cap could rise in 2025. He has set a short-term price target of $3.4, driven by the breakout and bullish momentum that XRP is experiencing.

“The breakout confirms what many expected: XRP is poised for a significant increase,” Brandt noted in his tweet, offering a positive outlook on XRP’s prospects.

Increased whale activity and market sentiment

The recent price movement is also supported by an increase in whale activity. According to analyst Ali Martinez, many traders have shorted XRP at the $2.60 level; Therefore, it is the position of a major liquidation that the market makers are likely to aim for. Whale Alert reported the transfer of 24 million XRP from Upbit to an unknown wallet. These moves are widely seen as a sign of confidence in the future of XRP.

XRP hits a local high of $2.3 as whale-to-exchange activity increases. Source: Woominkyu/CryptoQuant

Aside from the whales’ action, the market has been brewing due to the continued settlement of the legal dispute between Ripple and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Optimism that XRP will have a friendlier regulatory environment has led market participants to soon expect a settlement in the lawsuit filed by the US Securities and Exchange Commission against Ripple. Notably, analysts have pointed to the possibility of an XRP-based ETF being approved, which could increase its mainstream adoption.

Technical indicators and future price development

XRP’s technical indicators are consistent with bullish sentiment. XRP’s recent break above the upper trendline of a symmetrical triangle and its rise above the 8-day simple moving average sparked buying activity among traders. The ATR value is at 0.1777, which shows that volatility has increased, so we can expect stronger price movements in the following days. The ADX value of 15.48 also suggests that XRP’s uptrend is gaining momentum and has plenty of room for further strengthening.

RSI and Stochastic indicators remain neutral on XRP. Source: CryptoQuant

However, there are still challenges ahead. However, analysts believe that XRP needs to be maintained above $2.50 for the bullish outlook to remain valid. Otherwise, all bullish chart patterns will be invalidated and a trend reversal could occur. Despite the risks, the general sentiment remains positive and XRP is positioning itself as one of the standout performers in the crypto market.

Regulatory landscape and market potential

In other XRP news this week, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse expressed optimism about the company’s future, particularly in the US. He had dinner with President Trump, a very bullish signal for XRP. Several developments for Ripple, including the release of the RLUSD stablecoin, are considered beneficial for the future of the network. Finally, several analysts, like Nate Geraci of ETF Store, believe that this could be the year that XRP finally receives ETF approval, cementing its place in the mainstream financial system.

Brad Garlinghouse at dinner with President Trump

While the future of XRP largely depends on the resolution of the legal dispute between Ripple and the SEC, experts see the prospects for XRP as good. Legal experts such as Marc Fagel and Jeremy Hogan have spoken out and speculated on the possibility that new SEC Chairman Paul Atkins could decide not to appeal the ongoing case development, marking the final step in clearing Ripple and XRP’s regulatory path would.

I’m looking forward to

With a bullish breakout, a positive technical outlook, and favorable legal developments on the horizon, XRP is positioning itself for a strong rally in the coming months. As Ripple continues to make progress in the regulatory and financial areas, analysts believe the cryptocurrency could see significant price gains. Some predict a market cap of up to $502 billion by 2025. XRP price predictions point to new all-time highs.

XRP is up 9.8% over a 24-year period. Ripple (XRP) price chart. Source:XRP Liquid Index (XRPLX)

Whether XRP can maintain its upward momentum depends on its ability to maintain support levels and navigate the ever-evolving regulatory landscape. However, optimism remains high for now as XRP continues to take the lead in the crypto market. With Trump’s inauguration just days away, XRP may enter price discovery mode. This is good news for XRP investors.