Imagine XRP trading at $1.10 today, then hitting $1.40 by December 31, 2026. ChatGPT envisions exactly that. Despite a rough year with XRP down over 40%, the AI predicts a 27% rise from current levels before the end of this year.

Why such optimism? ChatGPT points to a few key drivers. First, there's solid potential for technical bounce-back. If XRP pushes above its recent local high near $1.17, climbing to $1.40 seems within reach. This price reflects a jump in market capitalization from roughly $69 billion to $87.5 billion.

Legal uncertainties are also fading. The Ripple-SEC case, a major overhang, is expected to settle by 2025, reducing risk and supporting price gains. On top of that, institutional interest is growing, especially around XRP Ledger’s expanding tokenization capabilities, which could spark more adoption and demand.

But it’s not all smooth sailing. A significant risk comes from XRP’s supply increase due to Ripple’s escrow releases. Earlier this year, about 2.1 billion XRP entered circulation from escrow, and by the end of 2026, Ripple could unlock another 5 billion tokens. This flood of new XRP could create selling pressure, limiting how high the price can realistically go.

Currently, Ripple’s escrow holds around 32.4 billion XRP, valued at over $35 billion. Managing this supply while demand grows will be critical for XRP’s price trajectory.

ChatGPT’s forecast neatly balances these factors, projecting a steady but cautious rebound. The AI’s outlook highlights the interplay between legal clarity, market dynamics, and supply constraints shaping XRP’s near future.