Why Speculation Alone Could Send XRP to $10

XRP influencer Zach Rector believes XRP price could reach $10 through speculation alone, without needing major growth in real-world use.

In a recent post on X, Rector said investors may be overthinking XRP’s price potential by focusing too much on its utility. His comments have sparked debate about whether speculation alone could push XRP to $10.

XRP is currently trading at $1.27. To reach $10, its price would need to rise by about 687%, nearly eight times its current value.

A Look at History

Indeed, speculation has often influenced XRP’s price, especially during crypto bull markets when investors buy in hopes of making profits.

XRP showed how quickly its price could rise during the 2017–2018 bull market. It climbed from about $0.006361 in January 2017 to a record high of $3.84 in January 2018 — a gain of more than 60,000%.

At the time, XRP had less institutional interest and ecosystem development than its supporters point to today. This past rally gives some investors hope that another wave of speculation could drive the price much higher.

However, XRP may not repeat that performance. In the 2024-2025 bull market, the coin surged nearly 700% from $0.5 to above $3.66. This price performance continues to shape the expectations of many who believe a $10 price is possible for XRP in the coming years.

XRP Community Questions the $10 Price Prediction

Meanwhile, Rector’s prediction has faced criticism from some XRP investors. They argue that speculation alone may not be enough to push the price above $3, especially because more than 60 billion XRP tokens are already in circulation.

Others, such as X user White Fang, questioned why speculation has not already pushed XRP’s price higher if it is enough to drive a major rally.

However, X user Wall-E Santana expressed frustration with repeated price predictions, pointing out that XRP has not risen as much as they expected despite institutional partnerships, ETF inflows, and the end of Ripple’s legal battle with the U.S. SEC.

Others have raised questions about XRP’s usefulness, especially with the launch of Ripple USD (RLUSD) on the XRP Ledger.

These reactions show a clear divide in the community. Some believe speculation could send XRP much higher, while others want to see stronger price growth alongside real-world adoption.

Can XRP Reach $10 Without More Real-World Use?

If XRP reaches $10, its market value will rise to between $600 billion and $650 billion, assuming 60 billion to 65 billion tokens are in circulation. That would further cement its position among the largest cryptocurrencies by market value.

Although this target is possible in theory, it requires favorable market conditions. In particular, speculation helps drive the price higher during bull markets due to the frenzy that often follows such events, as seen in 2025.

XRP supporters believe greater use of the XRP Ledger for payments, tokenization, and financial services could increase demand for the token. Critics argue that increased network activity does not automatically mean more people will need to buy XRP.

Ultimately, XRP’s next major rally will depend on speculation, real-world adoption, or both. For now, the $10 target remains ambitious and would require much stronger demand than the market has shown so far.