DeepSeek, the AI model that rivals more established names such as OpenAI expects Ripple’s native cryptocurrency XRP to print a new all-time price high of $30 before the end of this year.

That said, predicting a 10x rally in XRP is a bold call that will likely require more than one major catalyst to materialize. Let’s explore what has to happen for Ripple’s XRP to hit $30 in 2025.

Source: Brave New Coin XRP Liquid Index (XRPLX)

Approval for XRP ETFs

Grayscale has already launched an XRP Trust while CME Group is reportedly interested in launching a Ripple-focused derivatives product in February.

What is really needed for XRP to explode to $30 is a Spot XRP ETF. Such a vehicle will set up a straightforward and regulated means for institutional and retail investors to gain fast, easy exposure to Ripple’s XRP. This would drive a significant surge in demand. And with higher demand comes lower circulating supply that typically drives the price up. Simple!

There are now a number of Spot XRT ETF applications waiting for approval, including from Bitwise, Canary, and Wisdom Tree.

In fact, betting website Polymarket estimates an 82% chance of a Ripple XRP ETF being approved in 2025. That’s good odds.

A Ripple XRP Spot ETF is 82% likely, Source: Polymarket

The good news is that a bunch of US investment firms have already filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission to make an XRP ETF a reality. Plus, now that Gary Gensler is no longer at the helm, the regulator is not expected to take long to approve the Ripple-focused exchange-traded funds.

So, when DeepSeek said XRP was gearing up for a 10x rally in 2025 – it wasn’t making an unbelievably far-fetched call per se.

Source: TradingView

Mainstream Adoption

Another major catalyst that has to play out perfectly for XRP to unlock a sustainable rally to $30 by the end of this year is mainstream adoption.

Ripple is already working with the Bank of America on cross-border transactions – and as the regulator eases its stance on digital assets, others could follow its lead in pursuit of lower costs, improved speed, better security and absolute transparency.

Source: X.com

Brian Moynihan himself recently agreed that a little push from the US regulator could see big banks dive head first into crypto, unlocking a new era of finance where cryptocurrencies will be an acceptable means of payments just like a credit card.

That could prove to be a material tailwind and good news for XRP considering the global FX market has an average daily trading volume of more than $6.5 trillion at writing. If Ripple succeeds in capturing only 10% of it, it’ll be involved in transactions worth $330 billion on a daily basis.

Finally, there’s a scenario that has the potential to make a seemingly bold $30 price target for XRP start to appear conservative.

Could XRP really hit $30 in 2025?

For those interested in what XRP might do in the near term, the US Federal Reserve deciding against a rate cut could be significant. That’s because lower interest rates often drive capital into the risk-on assets like cryptocurrencies.

However, what’s also worth mentioning is that the US President – Donald Trump revealed plans of “demanding” that interest rates be lowered in a recent statement. Additionally, expectations more broadly are for the central bank to cut rates two more times in 2025.

So, the Fed may have left rates unchanged on Wednesday, hopes of further leniency in the monetary policy in the coming months remain on the table.

It’s another potential tailwind that could unlock for Ripple at a later stage.

Finally, with Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse pushing hard for XRP to be included in the American digital asset stockpile and a tokenization drive via a new Ripple partnership with Ondo Finance, the future for XRP is bright.