Ripple CEO’s Bombshell Announcement: Is the $27 XRP Era Beginning?

▲ Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse, XRP/ChatGPT-generated image ©

Explosive remarks from Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse have shaken the market, fueling optimistic projections that the XRP ecosystem could leap into a trillion-dollar enterprise. Expert analyses suggesting that XRP could surge to $27—surpassing Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH)—have further heightened investor expectations.

According to cryptocurrency outlet Bitcoinist on February 14 (local time), Garlinghouse drew significant attention by hinting at an ecosystem development strategy that could reshape XRP’s future trajectory. Market analyst Stern Drew described the announcement as a bombshell for holders, saying it reignited speculative interest in XRP’s outlook amid growing institutional adoption, regulatory progress, and strategic expansion.

Garlinghouse expressed confidence that a crypto company will achieve a $1 trillion valuation and indicated that Ripple is well-positioned to reach that milestone. Although he did not mention a specific name, he emphasized that as of 2026, the XRP Ledger (XRPL) is at the forefront of adopting zero-knowledge privacy (zk-privacy) technology. The blockchain is currently on the verge of launching zk-privacy in partnership with the biometric identity authentication platform DNA Protocol.

Alongside expectations of these fundamental ecosystem developments, technical indicators are also signaling a significant bullish reversal. Cryptocurrency analyst Bird projected that if XRP breaks above a long-standing downtrend line formed since early 2025, its price could ultimately surge to the fifth-wave target of $27—an explosive move that could overturn Bitcoin and Ethereum in terms of market capitalization.

According to Bird’s analysis, XRP’s relative performance chart against Ethereum shows signs of finally breaking out after seven to eight years of prolonged sideways movement. Indicators including the Relative Strength Index (RSI), along with shifting capital flows, suggest that bullish momentum may finally be taking hold.

Despite these positive long-term projections, the immediate market atmosphere remains subdued. XRP is currently trading around $1.41, up about 4% over the past 24 hours. However, trading volume has increased only 0.5% compared to the previous day, indicating that bearish sentiment still prevails among investors.

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