XRP’s October Surge: Price Hits $3+ Amid ETF Hype, Whale Moves, and Bold Predictions

Price Rally to Multi-Month Highs: XRP’s price climbed back above the psychological $3 mark in early October 2025, briefly touching about $3.10 on October 3 ^[1]. This marked XRP’s largest weekly gain of the year (~14%) and its biggest weekly candle of 2025 ^[2]. Trading volumes spiked (up ~38% week-over-week) ^[3], and XRP stood roughly 15% below its all-time high of ~$3.66 set in July ^[4]. Despite a mild intraday pullback (~3%) on October 4, buyers defended the $2.95–$3.00 support zone ^[5].
Regulatory Clarity Fuels Optimism: A landmark U.S. SEC settlement in August 2025 provided long-sought regulatory clarity for Ripple. The SEC essentially reclassified XRP as a non-security utility token and withdrew its prior appeals ^[6]. This removed a major legal overhang that had shadowed XRP for years, dramatically improving market sentiment. Additionally, Ripple’s application for a U.S. national bank charter (filed in July) is under review with a decision expected by late October ^[7]. If approved, Ripple could operate as a federally chartered bank – a move that would expand its influence in traditional finance and bolster its RLUSD stablecoin initiative ^[8].
ETF Mania in October: The prospect of the first U.S. spot XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) has the crypto market abuzz. Between October 18 and 25, 2025, the SEC faces final deadlines on a wave of spot XRP ETF applications from major asset managers including Grayscale, 21Shares, Bitwise, WisdomTree, CoinShares, and Franklin Templeton ^[9] ^[10]. Approval is widely anticipated – Bloomberg analysts put the odds near 100% ^[11] – especially after the SEC’s approval of new listing standards streamlined the process for crypto ETFs ^[12]. In fact, the first U.S.-listed XRP funds have already begun trading: the REX-Osprey XRP Trust ETF (XRPR) launched on Cboe on September 18, 2025 with a record $37.7M first-day volume ^[13], and a leveraged 2x Long XRP Futures ETF (ticker: XXRP) went live on October 4 ^[14]. This flood of regulated investment products is seen as a pivotal moment, bridging XRP into traditional finance and potentially unlocking billions in institutional capital ^[15] ^[16].
Institutional and “Whale” Moves: Big-money players are increasingly active in XRP. Ripple Labs itself made headlines by acquiring crypto prime brokerage firm Hidden Road for $1.25 billion, underscoring its push into institutional markets ^[17]. In the public markets, London-based VivoPower International (NASDAQ: VVPR) raised $19 million in early October to expand its XRP treasury holdings – a strong vote of confidence in Ripple’s ecosystem ^[18]. Blockchain data confirms that XRP “whales” (large holders) accumulated roughly 340 million XRP (≈$1 billion) over the past two weeks, primarily buying around the $2.85–$2.95 range ^[19]. Such accumulation has historically preceded major breakouts (for example, whales similarly loaded up before XRP’s 2021 rally) ^[20].
Technical Indicators Flash Bullish – But Caution Remains: Traders are eyeing encouraging patterns on XRP’s charts. Notably, a “golden cross” just appeared on the 3-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) – a bullish signal that previously foreshadowed XRP rallies of +75%, +28%, and even +575% in past cycles ^[21]. This time, with XRP reclaiming $3, the RSI crossover alongside support at the 50-period EMA suggests upside toward the next Fibonacci targets. Analysts note an 11% move to ~$3.39 (the 1.0 Fibonacci level) could be the next milestone, and if XRP can close above that, it may extend toward the 1.618 Fibonacci extension around $4.32 (about +40% from current levels) ^[22]. Another bullish chart pattern – a descending triangle breakout – points to a mid-term price target of roughly $3.98 (+30%) ^[23]. On-chain metrics also show muted profit-taking: the percentage of XRP supply in profit remains high but stable, unlike past spikes that triggered sell-offs, indicating that many holders are showing stronger conviction and not rushing to take profits ahead of the ETF decision dates ^[24]. However, short-term caution is advised: momentum oscillators hint that XRP is overbought in the very near term. For instance, the stochastic RSI hit extreme levels (K-value ~90 on Oct 3), and $3.15 has been identified as a near-term resistance level ^[25] ^[26]. Analysts warn a pullback to support (around $2.90 or even $2.70) is possible if that resistance holds, so traders are watching those support levels closely and managing risk accordingly ^[27].
Analyst Targets and Bold Predictions: Crypto analysts and industry experts offered an array of XRP price forecasts during this period. On the conservative side, many see $3.60–$4.00 as the next logical target if momentum continues. For example, popular analyst Lark Davis highlighted $4.00 as a strategic upside target, whereas Ali Martinez suggested ~$3.60 is more likely unless XRP’s rally accelerates – and he cautioned that failure to break out could lead to a retest of ~$2.80 support ^[28]. Other short-term analyses echoed a potential extension toward the mid-$3s, contingent on ETF news and technical breakouts ^[29]. Some market watchers are even more bullish: crypto influencer Alex Cobb told his followers he “sees a path to $6.32 this quarter” for XRP, and another analyst (pseudonym Amonyx) has floated targets as high as $10–$20 in a euphoric scenario ^[30]. Extremely optimistic forecasts have also emerged amidst the excitement – one widely-followed chartist known as “24hrscrypto1” went so far as to reiterate his belief that XRP will reach $100 by 2030, and even hinted it could happen sooner than that ^[31]. These lofty projections underscore the bullish sentiment in some corners of the community, though they far exceed the consensus expectations for now.
Broader Crypto Market Context: XRP’s spike is occurring against a backdrop of a resurgent crypto market often dubbed “Uptober.” Bitcoin and Ethereum, the two largest cryptocurrencies, have also been rallying, which adds tailwinds to XRP’s momentum. Bitcoin’s price, which got a boost from its own ETF approvals earlier, is trading in the six figures (above $100,000) for the first time ever ^[32]. Ethereum has broken out to multi-year highs, climbing past $4,500 in early October (its highest level since 2021) ^[33]. In fact, Ethereum vastly outperformed Bitcoin last quarter – ETH jumped ~66.8% in Q3 2025 (buoyed by significant institutional inflows into Ether-based ETFs), compared to Bitcoin’s modest ~6% gain in the same quarter ^[34]. XRP’s own performance sits between these two: it ended Q3 up about 28% with its highest-ever quarterly close (~$2.90) ^[35], and is now accelerating in Q4 alongside these market leaders. This broad crypto uptrend – helped by improving regulatory clarity in the U.S. and growing mainstream adoption – has created a favorable environment for altcoins like XRP to thrive ^[36] ^[37].

XRP Price Performance on Oct 3–4, 2025

XRP entered October 2025 with strong upward momentum. On October 3, the token’s price traded in the low $3 range, reclaiming the $3.00 level that had served as psychological resistance for weeks ^[38]. During that day, XRP pushed as high as approximately $3.09–3.10 on some exchanges ^[39]. By the evening of Oct 3, XRP was up about 11% for the week and 1.7% on the day, settling near $3.08–$3.09. These levels were the highest XRP had reached since July’s peak, putting it within ~15% of its all-time high (around $3.65–$3.70) ^[40]. Trading volumes were notably elevated, reflecting renewed market interest – weekly volume was nearly 40% higher than the prior week as traders piled in ^[41].

On October 4, some profit-taking and consolidation set in. XRP saw a mid-day dip, falling from about $3.05 to an intraday low near the high-$2.90s (a roughly –3.2% pullback) ^[42]. This slight retreat came as technical indicators showed overbought readings (more on that below) and as short-term traders likely cashed out some gains. However, importantly, buyers stepped in to defend the ~$2.95 support level, keeping XRP afloat around $3.0 by the end of Oct 4 ^[43]. By late afternoon, XRP was hovering just above $3.00, essentially flat to slightly down for the 24-hour period. This resilience at the $3 threshold – turning what was resistance into support – was seen as a bullish sign by analysts, suggesting that the market was absorbing selling pressure without a sharp drop. As the broader crypto market also cooled slightly on Oct 4, XRP’s ability to hold the line at $2.95–$3.00 indicated solid demand from buyers on any dips ^[44].

In terms of key metrics over these two days (Oct 3–4):

Price Range: XRP traded roughly between $2.95 and $3.10 during the period. The high near $3.10 came on Oct 3 when bullish enthusiasm peaked ^[45]. The low just below $2.95 occurred on Oct 4 during the brief intraday sell-off ^[46]. For context, a week earlier XRP was around $2.70, so the token staged a sizeable rally heading into this window ^[47].
Daily Changes: Oct 3 saw XRP close moderately up (around +1–2%) from its opening price ^[48], extending the prior days’ uptrend. Oct 4 looked to be slightly negative (a small percentage decline) by the day’s end as the market digested the recent run-up ^[49]. Despite that minor dip, XRP’s weekly gain remained in double digits.
Market Capitalization: At ~$3 per coin, XRP’s market cap stood in the vicinity of $160 billion (given circulating supply around 53 billion XRP). This solidified XRP’s position as the #3 cryptocurrency by market cap globally (behind only Bitcoin and Ethereum) ^[50]. In fact, by early October, XRP had increased its market cap by roughly $35–40 billion compared to a month prior, thanks to the price appreciation.
Trading Volume: Combined 24-hour trading volumes on Oct 3–4 consistently ranged in the several billions of USD – a sign of high liquidity. For instance, volume over the preceding 24 hours on Oct 3 was around $4–5 billion, significantly above average ^[51]. This elevated volume coincided with large buy orders (“whale” accumulation) and a rush of new investors positioning ahead of expected news.
Volatility: Price volatility picked up slightly due to the rally – XRP’s 7-day realized volatility in early October rose above 5%, after spending much of September at lower levels. However, compared to past XRP bull runs, the volatility was relatively contained; there were no wild multi-digit percentage swings intraday, just a steady grind upward with brief pauses.

From a performance standpoint, XRP’s October kickoff was impressive not just in absolute terms, but also relative to its peers. Over the first week of October, XRP gained about 14% ^[52], outpacing Bitcoin (which rose ~12% in the same span) and roughly matching Ethereum (+16%) ^[53]. It’s worth noting that XRP’s year-to-date and one-year performance have been stellar: as of Oct 4, XRP was up nearly 392% compared to a year ago ^[54] (having traded near $0.60 last fall and now around $3). This far exceeds Bitcoin’s and Ethereum’s gains over the same period, reflecting how pivotal the past year – especially the legal victory and renewed institutional interest – has been for XRP.

In summary, Oct 3–4 saw XRP’s price stabilize above $3 after a strong surge, with healthy trading activity and only modest cooling on the second day. The ability to sustain the $3 level indicated that the rally was built on more than just hype – it suggested improving fundamentals and confidence were at play, which set the stage for the next developments through the month.

News & Developments (Oct 3–4, 2025) Impacting XRP

Several significant news events and recent developments converged in early October to influence XRP’s market trajectory. These ranged from legal and regulatory breakthroughs to corporate actions and macro market trends:

Regulatory Victory Over the SEC: Perhaps the most crucial underpinning for XRP’s strength was the resolution of the SEC v. Ripple lawsuit over the summer. In August 2025, Ripple Labs reached a settlement with the U.S. SEC that ended the long-running legal uncertainty. Under the deal, Ripple paid a civil penalty (reportedly much smaller than what the SEC originally sought) and, importantly, the agreement affirmed that XRP itself is not a security in secondary market sales ^[55]. The SEC essentially conceded that routine XRP trading (for example, on exchanges) does not constitute an unregistered securities offering, removing a cloud that had hung over XRP since the lawsuit began in late 2020. The SEC even withdrew its pending appeal of a prior court ruling in Ripple’s favor ^[56], cementing this outcome. This regulatory clarity was a game-changer for market sentiment – XRP could now be viewed by investors and institutions as a “legit” digital asset with far less risk of future legal crackdown ^[57]. The timing is notable: XRP’s 28% rally in Q3 2025 ^[58], culminating in that highest-ever quarterly close, was largely attributed to this positive legal resolution, and it set a bullish tone entering Q4.
XRP ETF Approval Buzz: A major storyline in the crypto markets in October was the anticipated approval of spot XRP ETFs in the United States. Following on the heels of Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, at least seven issuers filed for XRP-backed exchange-traded funds, with the final SEC decision deadlines falling in mid-to-late October ^[59]. This includes heavyweights like Grayscale, WisdomTree, Bitwise, 21Shares, CoinShares, Canary Capital, and Franklin Templeton (whose deadline extends to November) ^[60] ^[61]. The crypto community widely expects the SEC to green-light these funds – as one report noted, Bloomberg ETF analysts signaled ~95–100% probability of approval based on recent regulatory shifts ^[62] ^[63]. Notably, in late September the SEC adopted new standards allowing easier listing of commodity-based ETFs, which effectively streamlined crypto ETF approvals by removing bureaucratic hurdles ^[64]. Indeed, the floodgates have already begun to open: by early October, the very first U.S. XRP-linked ETFs launched. On September 18, the REX-Osprey XRP Trust (XRPR) debuted on the Cboe exchange as the first spot XRP fund, trading under the Investment Company Act of 1940. It saw a staggering $37.7 million in volume on its first day – the biggest ETF launch of 2025 up to that point ^[65]. Then on October 4, Teucrium’s 2x Long Daily XRP ETF (XXRP), a leveraged futures-based ETF, automatically went live, offering investors amplified exposure to XRP’s price movements ^[66]. Another product called XRPI (structured via futures) also began trading ^[67]. This spate of launches underscores how quickly XRP is being integrated into traditional financial instruments. The expectation of looming spot ETF approvals has been a huge bullish catalyst: traders speculate that once ETFs are officially approved, large institutions, hedge funds, and even retirement accounts could more readily invest in XRP, driving up demand. As a historical analog, observers point to Bitcoin’s ETF moment – when the first U.S. spot BTC ETFs were approved in late 2024, Bitcoin’s market cap jumped by $400B within three months, and the price ultimately rocketed to new highs over $100k ^[68] ^[69]. Many believe XRP could see a similar influx. It’s worth noting that a U.S. government shutdown briefly threatened to delay some of these ETF decisions (the SEC’s operations were partially affected in early October), but this turned out to be a minor hiccup ^[70]. By Oct 4, confidence was so high that markets had largely “priced in” an XRP ETF approval – a scenario that, if it materializes, would mark a watershed in XRP’s history.
Ripple’s Bank Charter and Expansion Plans: Another quieter but significant development in October is Ripple’s venture into the banking world. Ripple has an application pending with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for a national bank charter, which would effectively allow it to operate a federally regulated bank in the U.S. ^[71]. This application was filed back in July, and by the 120-day review window, a decision is due in October 2025 ^[72]. If Ripple secures this charter, it could integrate more deeply into the traditional financial system – for instance, it could directly offer banking services, custody digital assets, or issue stablecoins under regulatory oversight. In fact, Ripple has signaled interest in expanding its stablecoin offerings, particularly its XRP Ledger-based stablecoin RLUSD (Ripple Liquidity USD). Having a bank charter would bolster credibility and legal footing for those initiatives ^[73]. During this time, Ripple also continued global expansion of its payments network. The company announced new pilot programs in Asia and Latin America leveraging XRP for cross-border settlements ^[74], and it has been actively engaging central banks and financial institutions. All these fundamental moves reinforce the narrative that XRP has growing utility in payments and finance, not just speculative appeal. The culmination of a bank charter approval plus ETF approvals – both potentially landing in October – would be an extraordinary one-two punch for Ripple and XRP.
Institutional Adoption and Treasury Use: Early October also brought news of a unique corporate adoption of XRP. VivoPower International, a NASDAQ-listed renewable energy and battery technology company, made waves by embracing XRP as a treasury asset. On October 1, VivoPower announced it had closed a $19 million equity raise (at a premium to its market price) specifically to fuel its digital asset strategy focused on XRP ^[75]. The funding, backed by institutional investors including a Saudi prince, will be used to pay down debt and accumulate XRP for long-term holding as part of VivoPower’s treasury reserves ^[76]. This follows an earlier partnership the company made for a $30M allocation in XRP and an ambitious plan to allocate up to $200M into XRP-related strategies ^[77]. Essentially, VivoPower is aligning itself as an “XRP treasury” firm, one of the first public companies to explicitly do so. The CEO of VivoPower cited confidence in Ripple’s ecosystem – notably, the company has even started piloting Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin for cross-border payments in its operations ^[78]. The symbolic impact of this announcement on Oct 3–4 was significant: it provided a fresh narrative for investors (“Traditional company adopts XRP as reserve asset”) and likely contributed to XRP’s surge above $3. Crypto news outlets highlighted that XRP “broke above $3 on an unexpected treasury announcement” from VivoPower ^[79]. This is reminiscent of how in the past, companies adding Bitcoin to their balance sheets (e.g. MicroStrategy) boosted BTC’s market perception. Here, VivoPower’s move acted as a vote of confidence in XRP’s future value and use-case. It also underscores a theme of institutional accumulation – beyond VivoPower, large XRP holders (so-called whales) were busy buying. Over roughly the last half of September into early October, on-chain analytics observed whale wallets adding hundreds of millions of XRP at an aggressive pace ^[80]. Such accumulation around the $2.8–2.9 level formed a strong base, indicating that big players were positioning for a potential breakout. All of these factors – ETF buzz, legal clarity, a possible bank charter, and even a public company investment – created a fundamentally supportive backdrop for XRP’s price during Oct 3–4.
Market and Macro Factors: Broader market conditions in early October also favored XRP’s rise. The overall crypto market sentiment was bullish (hence the nickname “Uptober”), aided by macroeconomic hopes that the U.S. Federal Reserve might ease monetary policy in coming months (lower interest rates tend to benefit risk assets like crypto). Additionally, news of Bitcoin ETF launches and strong Ethereum ETF inflows in late September set a positive tone across crypto assets ^[81]. XRP, being one of the top altcoins, benefited from investors rotating into majors that hadn’t yet hit new highs – many saw XRP as relatively undervalued given its legal win, especially compared to Bitcoin (which was already well above its previous peak by this time) ^[82]. There was also some news of potential U.S. government shutdown in early October (as Congress deliberated federal budgets), which ironically fueled speculation that the SEC’s processes could slow down, possibly delaying any negative decisions on crypto ETFs. This line of thinking was that a distracted or partly furloughed SEC might default into allowing ETF approvals by inaction. While largely speculative, it was another thread in the narrative tapestry around XRP at the time ^[83]. In short, macro and market-wide developments provided a tailwind that amplified the impact of XRP-specific news, creating something of a perfect storm for Ripple’s token during the first week of October.

In conclusion, the Oct 3–4 timeframe saw XRP propelled by a convergence of positive developments: clear legal status, imminent ETF catalysts, tangible institutional adoption, and a crypto market rally. Each news item reinforced the others – for example, whales and companies buying XRP (as VivoPower did) made more sense in light of the ETF expectations and legal clarity. This synergy of factors helps explain why XRP was one of the best-performing major cryptocurrencies of early October 2025 and why many traders grew increasingly optimistic about its short-term trajectory.

Technical & Fundamental Analysis Insights

Chart: XRP’s price (in USD) on a 3-day timeframe as of Oct. 3, 2025. A bullish RSI “golden cross” occurred (circled) as XRP broke above $3, indicating strengthening momentum. Analysts noted this signal has preceded major rallies (75%+ gains) in past instances ^[84]. The chart also highlights Fibonacci extension levels at ~$3.39 (100%) and ~$4.32 (161.8%) — potential upside targets if XRP’s breakout continues ^[85]. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView.

From a technical analysis standpoint, XRP’s charts were increasingly constructive entering October. A few key technical signals and patterns stood out to analysts:

RSI Golden Cross: One of the most talked-about signals was the Relative Strength Index (RSI) “golden cross” on XRP’s higher-timeframe chart. In early October, XRP’s 3-day RSI indicator crossed above its own moving average, which is a bullish momentum crossover. This exact signal has historically been a precursor to significant price rallies for XRP. For example, when a similar RSI cross happened in June 2025, XRP’s price jumped over 75% in the following month; a prior occurrence in April 2024 led to a ~28% rally; and remarkably, an RSI cross in November 2024 was followed by an explosive 575% surge ^[86]. While past performance doesn’t guarantee future results, the recurrence of this pattern in October suggested momentum was shifting strongly in favor of bulls once again ^[87]. The RSI golden cross occurred just as XRP pushed above its 50-period moving average support and cleared the $3 threshold, adding credence to the breakout. Traders often interpret this as a signal to ride the trend, expecting further upside as long as RSI stays in bullish territory.
Falling Wedge Breakout: Since late August, XRP’s price had been trading within a textbook falling wedge pattern – essentially a bullish consolidation where price makes lower highs and lower lows within converging trendlines. This pattern often resolves upward, and indeed by end of September, XRP was pressing against the wedge’s upper trendline. In the first days of October, XRP broke out of the wedge, confirming the pattern. The breakout point was around $2.90–$3.00, and once above, the technical target of the wedge comes into play. Typically, a falling wedge can project a move equal to the height of the wedge. Analysts identified $3.10 as a crucial resistance (it roughly coincided with XRP’s summer highs and the wedge’s boundary) ^[88]. Clearing $3.10 on a sustained basis would open the door, chart-wise, to the next resistance in the mid-$3s. Some chartists pointed to the $3.60–$4.00 range as a possible target zone if the breakout holds ^[89]. One prominent crypto trader, Lark Davis, specifically noted that $4.00 could be reachable in the scenario of an extended rally, given that XRP’s all-time high is $3.66 and a breakout could overshoot to new highs ^[90]. Another respected analyst, Ali Martinez, agreed the wedge breakout was bullish but urged caution around $3.60, positing that XRP might struggle to exceed that without more fundamental firepower – he warned that if bullish momentum faltered, XRP could retrace toward $2.80 (essentially back into the wedge) in a worst case ^[91].
Support & Resistance Levels:Altcoin Buzz’s technical team provided a succinct summary of the key levels in play (as of Oct 3). They pegged $2.85 as a strong support (coinciding with the 100-day exponential moving average) and $2.70 as the deeper support (near the lower Bollinger Band) ^[92]. Those levels aligned well with where recent whale accumulation occurred, suggesting dip-buyers would be active there ^[93]. On the upside, $3.15 was identified as the nearest resistance (the 50-day EMA) and indeed XRP’s advance on Oct 3 stalled just about at $3.10-$3.15 ^[94] ^[95]. The next resistance above that was around $3.30 (upper Bollinger Band), and beyond that the focus would shift to larger round-number targets – $3.50, $3.65 (ATH), and $4.00 ^[96] ^[97]. This framework suggested XRP was trading in the upper part of its range with limited short-term upside unless new catalysts arrived, which is why many short-term traders were cautious once $3+ was achieved.
Momentum & Overbought Signals: Technical oscillators showed strong momentum but also hinted at near-term exhaustion. The Stochastic RSI, for instance, was above 90 (on a 0-100 scale) by Oct 3, indicating overbought conditions ^[98]. The Altcoin Buzz analysis noted that when Stoch RSI is above 80, the asset is considered overbought and due for at least a pause or pullback ^[99]. This overbought signal indeed corresponded with XRP’s minor pullback on Oct 4. However, overbought readings can also occur in very strong uptrends and remain so for an extended period. Analysts advised traders to watch for any bearish divergence or downturn in these indicators as an early warning. As of Oct 4, there was no major bearish divergence visible – price and momentum were climbing together – but the elevated oscillator levels meant risk management (like trailing stop-losses) was prudent in case of a sudden reversal ^[100]. The bottom line was that bullish momentum remained intact (higher highs, higher lows were forming), but short-term indicators suggested the rally might need to cool off or consolidate before any attempt at the next leg higher.
On-Chain & Fundamental Signals: Beyond price charts, on-chain metrics and fundamental data provided additional insights:
- Whale Accumulation: As mentioned, large XRP holders were in accumulation mode. Data from blockchain analytics firm CoinGlass revealed that whales (addresses holding tens of millions of XRP) collectively added roughly 340 million XRP in the latter half of September ^[101]. This kind of accumulation was last seen in late 2021 when XRP was around $0.60 – it preceded a rally to $1.90 in 2021 ^[102]. The current accumulation around $2.8-$2.9 creates a strong demand floor, as those buyers are likely to defend their positions. It also signals confidence among sophisticated players.
- Supply in Profit & HODLer Behavior: Glassnode’s data on the “Percent of Supply in Profit” for XRP remained high (a large majority of XRP tokens were being held at a cost-basis lower than current price) yet did not spike to extremes ^[103]. In previous cycles, when nearly all tokens were in profit (approaching 95-100%), a wave of selling usually followed as early investors took profits en masse ^[104]. In October 2025, the profit-taking appeared much more measured – many XRP holders seemed content to hold through the volatility, possibly expecting higher prices if ETF approvals and other catalysts hit. This holder conviction is a bullish underlying sign; it implies the rally might have more “diamond hands” behind it and less weak-hand speculation than in past peaks.
- Network Activity: The XRP Ledger’s activity has been steady. There wasn’t a dramatic spike or drop in transaction counts during early October – XRP’s daily transaction volume on-chain remained in the 1.2–1.5 million range, consistent with its average. However, one notable fundamental was Ripple’s continued development of use-cases: e.g., Ripple’s new cross-border payment corridors in Asia and testing of the RLUSD stablecoin in real-world payments ^[105]. These fundamental achievements don’t immediately reflect in price, but they improve the long-term value proposition of XRP. Analysts often say that a strong fundamental backdrop (real usage and adoption) can justify higher valuations and make price rallies more sustainable.

In summary, technical analysis around October 3–4 painted a picture of cautious optimism. XRP had broken out from a bullish pattern and was riding positive momentum, supported by on-chain accumulation and a de-risked fundamental outlook. Short-term traders were mindful of overbought readings and nearby resistance around $3.10–$3.15 ^[106]. But if XRP could digest its gains and break above those hurdles – particularly with a major catalyst like an ETF approval – the charts suggested room to run toward the mid-$3s or higher in the weeks ahead ^[107]. It was a classic scenario where upside potential (with confirmation of news) was large, but some consolidation would be healthy to avoid overheating the market. Many experts advised keeping an eye on volume and support levels: rising volume on an eventual push through $3.15 would signal a likely continuation of the rally, whereas any drop below ~$2.80 without news could indicate a deeper correction. As of October 4, however, the technical bias remained bullish, aligning with the strong fundamentals in play.

Comparisons with Bitcoin and Ethereum

While XRP was making headlines in its own right, it’s helpful to compare its performance and situation with that of the crypto heavyweights, Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), during this period. Early October 2025 was a bullish time for all three, though for different reasons:

Market Performance: In the first days of October, Bitcoin traded around the $110,000–$120,000 range, having broken into six figures for the first time in mid-2025 ^[108]. Bitcoin’s move was largely driven by its own ETF narrative – the first U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs launched in January 2024, and by 2025 Bitcoin had rallied tremendously (with some volatility along the way). By Oct 2025, BTC was up over 100% year-to-date, though its pace had slowed after reaching the six-figure milestone. Ethereum, on the other hand, was in the midst of a strong surge. ETH crossed above $4,000 in late September and was trading roughly between $4,400 and $4,500 in early October ^[109]. It was nearing its all-time high of ~$4,865 (from Nov 2021), boosted by a flurry of Ethereum ETF approvals and renewed interest in decentralized finance (DeFi) and NFTs. In Q3 2025 alone, Ethereum’s price had jumped ~66%, far outperforming Bitcoin’s ~6% gain in that quarter ^[110]. XRP’s Q3 gain of ~28% ^[111] placed it in between – stronger than Bitcoin’s but below Ethereum’s torrid pace. However, XRP’s early Q4 performance (the 14% weekly gain into Oct 3 ^[112]) actually outshined both BTC and ETH on a weekly basis. This indicates that XRP was catching up fast, likely as investors rotated profits from BTC/ETH into altcoins with pending catalysts (like XRP’s ETF news).
All-Time Highs and Recovery: By October 2025, Bitcoin had long surpassed its previous ATH (around $69k from 2021) and was in price discovery above $100k. Ethereum was just below its prior ATH ($4.8k) but within striking distance, showing strong momentum with new ETFs fueling inflows ^[113]. XRP, notably, had not yet broken its historical high of roughly $3.65 (depending on the exchange) which was set initially back in the 2017–2018 bull run and then briefly matched in July 2025 ^[114]. This made XRP somewhat unique; despite its massive rebound over the past year, it was one of the few top cryptos that hadn’t hit a new record price in the 2024–2025 cycle. Some analysts argued this made XRP “lagging” and thus potentially primed for an outsized move if confidence returned. Others cautioned that XRP’s large circulating supply and selling by early investors (including programmatic sales by Ripple in the past) could cap its upside relative to Bitcoin or Ethereum. Regardless, the situation set up an interesting dynamic: Bitcoin and Ether were viewed as more mature assets already at high valuations, whereas XRP was seen as having more room to run if a big catalyst like ETF approval materialized and if it could finally push into price discovery above $3.70.
Narrative and Catalysts: Each of the three had distinct narratives in early October:
- Bitcoin was being seen as “digital gold” and an inflation hedge by some institutions. Its narrative revolved around the mainstream adoption (ETFs, corporate treasuries, even nation-state interest) and macro factors like central bank policies. By Oct 2025, BTC had also benefited from a supply shock due to its halving in 2024 and the fact that a lot of BTC was getting locked in long-term holdings and ETFs. So Bitcoin’s story was one of relatively lower volatility but steady appreciation and institutional acceptance.
- Ethereum’s narrative was centered on being the essential infrastructure of Web3 – with the resurgence of NFT markets, DeFi protocols, and new layer-2 scaling solutions, Ethereum was experiencing record on-chain activity. The approval of spot ETH ETFs in mid-2025 also brought fresh capital; one U.S. spot Ether ETF reportedly attracted $1 billion in inflows in just one week of early October ^[115]. Ethereum was also expecting technical upgrades (code-named “Fusaka”) to reduce Layer-2 fees ^[116], adding a tech-driven excitement. Thus ETH had both fundamental and investment product catalysts.
- XRP’s narrative, as detailed above, was all about the resolution of its legal saga and its entrance into the big leagues via institutional products. XRP also has a more payment-focused value proposition compared to BTC’s “store of value” and ETH’s “smart contract platform” roles. In October, Ripple’s strides in building payment corridors and potential bank charter gave XRP a unique angle: positioning itself as a bridge currency for global finance. The comparison was often made that “XRP is to cross-border payments what Ethereum is to DeFi”, highlighting that each major crypto was carving out a different niche.
Correlation and Divergence: Interestingly, XRP’s price movements had become somewhat decoupled from Bitcoin’s during this period – at least for short stretches. Throughout 2023–2024, XRP often lagged behind BTC, or even moved opposite when legal news hit. But in late September/early October 2025, as Bitcoin cooled off after its big run and moved mostly sideways, XRP was accelerating upward on its specific news. The correlation between XRP and BTC dropped to a low level (some data suggested a 30-day correlation well under 0.5, whereas historically it was above 0.7). Ethereum and XRP showed a mild positive correlation since both were altcoins rallying on good news, but even ETH’s moves didn’t fully dictate XRP’s. This spells a maturation of the market: investors were evaluating each asset more on its own merits than simply treating altcoins as a monolithic group that goes up and down with Bitcoin. However, during any sharp market-wide moves (like if Bitcoin had a big break up or down), XRP would not be immune. Crypto investors still keep an eye on BTC as a sentiment barometer. For instance, had Bitcoin’s price sharply corrected below $100k in early October, it might have dampened enthusiasm and liquidity across the board, including for XRP. But as it were, Bitcoin’s stability and Ethereum’s strength acted as supportive context, giving XRP a chance to shine with its own narrative.

Overall, comparing XRP with Bitcoin and Ethereum around Oct 3–4, XRP was in a somewhat earlier stage of its breakout arc. Bitcoin had already made new highs and Ethereum was close to doing so, while XRP was just reclaiming a multi-year high zone. This made XRP’s story especially intriguing to many traders – the idea that “the big caps have pumped, now it might be XRP’s turn.” If the anticipated news (ETFs, etc.) went XRP’s way, some speculated XRP could follow Ethereum’s footsteps in breaking its all-time high, potentially even outperforming on a percentage basis in Q4 2025. On the flip side, if broader markets faltered or if XRP’s specific catalysts disappointed, XRP could have more downside risk precisely because it had run up on optimism. In any case, by early October the stage was set for XRP to try and close the performance gap relative to Bitcoin and Ether, underlining the old crypto market saying: “rotation from Bitcoin profits into altcoins” when conditions turn favorable. XRP’s fundamentals gave it a strong case to be a leading altcoin in that rotation at the time.

Price Forecasts and Predictions (Early October 2025)

The surge in XRP’s price and the confluence of positive developments spurred many analysts and market commentators to update their price forecasts for XRP. During the Oct 3–4 period and the days surrounding it, a range of predictions – from cautious to extremely bullish – were put forward:

Short-Term Targets (October 2025): In the immediate term (weeks to a month ahead), a common perspective was that XRP could test new multi-year highs in the $3.5–$4.5 range if the anticipated ETF approvals came through and the market maintained momentum. For instance, a Cointelegraph analysis on Oct 3 noted that technical patterns were aligning such that 30–40% upside was feasible – pointing to potential peaks around $3.98 to $4.32 by late October ^[117] ^[118]. This was contingent on XRP decisively clearing about $3.39 (a key Fibonacci retracement level) and then $3.60. Similarly, several crypto strategists on social media set $4 as a psychological target, since breaking the 2018 all-time high (~$3.65) would likely trigger fresh momentum. On Oct 1, a well-followed trader Alex Cobb predicted a move to roughly $6.3 in Q4 2025 if things went perfectly – he based this on chart patterns and the precedent of Bitcoin’s post-ETF surge ^[119]. While $6+ was on the high side for short-term forecasts, it wasn’t outside the realm of possibility, representing about a 2x from the $3 level.
Post-ETF Launch Scenarios: Many predictions hinged on the impact of spot ETF launches. One prevailing theory was that if the SEC approves XRP ETFs in October, there could be a “sell the news” dip initially (similar to what happened to Bitcoin which briefly fell the week its ETF launched, from $48k to $38k ^[120]) but that soon after, the inflows from these ETFs would drive a powerful rally. The CryptoBasic reported this perspective, recalling how Bitcoin dipped then soared to new highs above $100k within a year of its ETF introduction ^[121] ^[122]. Translating that to XRP, some analysts expected volatility around the ETF decision day, but a generally upward trajectory in the months after. Price projections of $5 to $10 by early 2026 started to circulate in the XRP community forums, though these were speculative. Notably, Kenny Nguyen, a crypto commentator, made headlines by arguing XRP’s price “should be around $22 to $50” once the first wave of spot XRP ETFs go live ^[123]. He tweeted this view in mid-August and it gained traction again in October as ETF approvals neared. Nguyen’s rationale was that opening XRP to institutional investment via ETFs could re-rate its value significantly higher, into the double digits. This would imply roughly a 7x–15x increase from the ~$3 level ^[124]. Such an outlook is very optimistic and not widely shared by traditional analysts, but it shows the bullish extreme of sentiment out there.
Institutional Inflows Estimates: Some forecasts tried to quantify how much new money could flow into XRP due to ETFs and other institutional avenues, and then derive a price from that. Steven McClurg, CIO of Canary Capital (one of the firms that filed an XRP ETF), stated in a podcast that he believes XRP could attract $5 billion of investment within the first month of a U.S. ETF launch ^[125]. Using a market cap multiplier model (which considers the effect of new inflows on price, accounting for market depth), McClurg suggested this might propel XRP’s market capitalization toward $1.5 trillion – equating to a price around $26 per XRP ^[126]. Other models cited by analysts considered various percentages of Bitcoin ETF inflows that XRP might capture: for example, if XRP ETFs captured 15% of what Bitcoin ETFs did, one analysis saw XRP at ~$12; at 30%, XRP could reach ~$22 ^[127]. These kinds of calculations were discussed in crypto media ^[128]. They are admittedly back-of-the-envelope, but they served to illustrate that if institutional adoption mirrors Bitcoin’s, XRP’s upside could be substantial (though by no means guaranteed).
Medium-Term Predictions (6–12 months): Looking further out, a number of analysts foresaw XRP entering a new price regime by 2026. With the legal issues resolved and if adoption continued, even some typically conservative finance voices acknowledged the possibility of XRP in the $5–$10 range over the next year. For instance, a veteran trader Peter Brandt (known for technical analysis of commodities and occasionally crypto) commented that if XRP broke its 2018 high, “price discovery could carry it significantly higher,” though he refrained from giving a hard target. On the flip side, there were warnings too: some analysts pointed out that XRP had posted five consecutive quarterly gains leading up to Q4 2025 – a remarkably strong streak – and that mean reversion might kick in ^[129]. If the ETF narrative underwhelmed or macro conditions turned, XRP could have a “red quarter” to end 2025, they cautioned ^[130]. Such bearish scenarios often cited a return to the $1.5–$2.0 range as a possibility in a broad market correction or if regulatory winds shifted negatively again (for example, if any global regulators clamped down on XRP’s usage, etc.). However, at the moment in early October, bearish voices were relatively muted given the momentum.
Long-Term Ambitions: Among the XRP faithful, very high price targets have periodically been proposed (sometimes half-jokingly, sometimes in earnest). The resurgence in 2025 brought some of these back into the conversation. One example is the prediction that XRP could hit $100 by or before 2030. On October 4, an article highlighted a statement from an analyst known as 24hrscrypto1 who expressed a “firm belief” that XRP will reach $100 by 2030 and even hinted it could happen much earlier than that ^[131]. To put $100 in perspective: that would imply around a $5+ trillion market cap for XRP, which is an order of magnitude larger than even Bitcoin’s market cap at the time. Such a figure would likely require XRP becoming one of the dominant settlement layers in global finance, potentially capturing value from cross-border money transfers, forex markets, and even tokenized assets. While many mainstream analysts find these ultra-bullish predictions far-fetched, they do capture the imagination of some investors – especially given that crypto markets have produced exponential growth stories in the past. Proponents of the $50 or $100+ theses argue that if XRP truly becomes the backbone for a large portion of international remittances and institutional liquidity (in line with Ripple’s vision), the valuation could be dramatically higher than today’s. Skeptics counter that such visions assume widespread adoption that is not guaranteed, and they note the large supply of XRP (and Ripple’s own holdings) could act as a headwind to extreme price appreciation.
Expert Quotes: To provide some direct voices, here are a few quotations from experts around this time:
- Crypto King (market analyst): “Fund managers overseeing $1.5 trillion+ in assets have shown preliminary engagement [with XRP ETFs], implying significant upside if regulatory clarity aligns with demand ^[132].” – This underscores the belief that big institutional players are ready to pour money into XRP given the right conditions.
- Lark Davis (analyst): “XRP’s chart is finally breaking out. I’m looking at $4.00 next if we get an ETF approval and a weekly close above $3.10 ^[133].” – A forward-looking technical take linking catalyst and target.
- Kenny Nguyen (crypto commentator): “XRP should be between $22 and $50 once the first set of spot XRP ETFs launches ^[134].” – An extremely bullish view anticipating a step-change in valuation with institutional access.
- Steven McClurg (Canary Capital): “XRP has no staking yield to deter ETF adoption… Combined with its dominance in payments and a global community, it strengthens the case for substantial initial inflows ^[135] ^[136].” – Here McClurg highlights why XRP might see a lot of ETF demand (investors aren’t losing any yield by choosing an ETF, unlike with staking coins, and XRP has a strong narrative).
- 24hrscrypto1 (technical analyst on X): “I firmly believe XRP will reach $100 by 2030… actually, much sooner ^[137].” – Capturing the moon-shot optimism among hardcore XRP believers.

It’s important to stress that these forecasts are speculative. The range is wide because outcomes depend on many unpredictable factors: regulatory approvals, overall crypto market health, Ripple’s business success, and macroeconomic conditions, to name a few. As one prudent analysis from Cointelegraph noted, any investment comes with risk and readers should do their own research ^[138]. Crypto markets are notorious for rapid changes; while October 2025’s sentiment was predominantly positive, savvy investors consider how quickly euphoria can turn to panic (and vice versa).

At the moment of Oct 3–4, however, the bias in predictions was clearly to the upside. The successful resolution of XRP’s court case and the tangible prospect of ETFs had flipped a multi-year narrative on its head. Where once analysts wondered if XRP would survive as a going concern, many were now wondering how high it could fly under a new paradigm of acceptance. The most sensible forecasts seemed to cluster around the idea that XRP retesting its record high (~$3.65) was very likely, and that achieving perhaps $5–$7 in an extended rally (assuming ETFs and market tailwinds) was within reason over the next quarter or two. Exceeding that, such as entering the $10+ realm, would likely require either an unprecedented wave of adoption or the kind of retail mania last seen in 2017 – neither of which was impossible, but would be significant leaps from the status quo.

In summary, the forecast spectrum in early October ranged from cautious optimism (holding $3 and advancing modestly) to sky-high exuberance ($20+ scenarios). Realistically, much depended on execution: the coming weeks (with expected SEC decisions) were poised to either validate the bullish case or possibly serve as a reality check. Stakeholders and analysts alike were eagerly awaiting mid-October, as XRP’s next big chapter would be written by those outcomes.

Conclusion

Early October 2025 proved to be an inflection point for XRP, as the cryptocurrency rallied above $3 on a wave of positive momentum and fundamental news. In the span of just a few days, XRP demonstrated resilience and strength that even its critics had to acknowledge – buoyed by regulatory clarity, growing institutional interest, and the tantalizing prospect of mainstream financial integration via ETFs.

For a general audience following along, the key takeaway is that XRP is no longer just the controversial altcoin entangled in lawsuits that it was a couple of years ago. It has emerged from its legal battles with a clearer status, which in turn has opened doors that were previously closed. Banks, investment funds, and publicly traded companies are now dabbling in XRP or its infrastructure, something that lends a newfound credibility. This doesn’t mean XRP’s path forward will be without challenges or volatility – far from it. The crypto market remains highly speculative and can be whipsawed by external events (regulatory decisions, macroeconomic shifts, even social media buzz). But as of October 4, 2025, the stars seemed to be aligning for Ripple’s native token in a way we haven’t seen in a long time.

From a price perspective, XRP’s performance on Oct 3–4 was a microcosm of the broader trend: a strong surge, slight pullback, and consolidation at a higher support. It reflects a market testing new ground but not recklessly overshooting – perhaps a sign of maturation. The coming weeks will be crucial. If the expected ETF approvals are confirmed, XRP could see another leg up, potentially breaking into all-time highs. Success there might put XRP in uncharted territory, where larger forces like mainstream investor adoption could take hold. On the other hand, if something were to derail the bullish momentum (for example, an unforeseen regulatory hurdle or a market-wide correction), XRP would have to rely on its solid fundamentals – real-world utility and a loyal community – to weather the storm.

In our comparison with Bitcoin and Ethereum, we saw that XRP is playing catch-up in a market that’s overall bullish. That context is important: it means XRP’s fortunes are tied to the continued interest in crypto as an asset class. The good news for XRP holders is that interest is high right now – crypto is in the headlines for mainstream finance, and XRP is among the focal points thanks to its unique developments. It’s telling that in key crypto market reports, XRP is being mentioned alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum as leaders of the rally ^[139].

For those looking ahead, a few things to watch in the XRP ecosystem would be:

Regulatory follow-through: With the SEC case settled, how will other regulators globally treat XRP? (Already, countries like the UK and Japan never labeled XRP a security; broader international clarity could boost adoption.)
Institutional products uptake: If and when spot XRP ETFs start trading, do they attract significant inflows? Early signs (like the REX-Osprey’s launch volume) are promising ^[140], but sustained interest over months will matter more for price stability and growth.
Ripple’s business milestones: Whether it’s the bank charter, new partnerships (such as central bank digital currency projects or major payment providers), or technological developments on the XRP Ledger (like hooks, sidechains, etc.), these will feed into investor confidence about XRP’s long-term value.
Broader market health: XRP may have unique drivers, but it’s still part of the crypto market. Bull runs don’t last forever, and macroeconomic conditions (interest rates, inflation, etc.) will influence when crypto winter or summer sets in. XRP’s ability to maintain and build on its gains will partially depend on not swimming against a macro tide.

In conclusion, the period of October 3–4, 2025 encapsulated a renewed chapter for XRP – one of optimism and forward momentum. The price action was strong, the news flow was largely positive, and analysts’ outlooks were brighter than they’ve been in years. XRP finds itself at the cusp of possibly entering the financial mainstream in a way that once seemed improbable. While risks remain and nothing is guaranteed, the narrative around XRP has undoubtedly shifted. As a result, XRP has re-entered the conversation for many investors and market watchers as a top-tier crypto asset with a compelling story, making the remainder of 2025 an extremely exciting (and pivotal) time for anyone interested in cryptocurrency and financial markets at large.

How Will ETFs Affect XRP's Price?