XRP’s Next Move: Insights After the CLARITY Act Setback
Quick Overview
The recent 49-50 Senate vote against the CLARITY Act caused XRP to plummet by 8%, undermining key price predictions reliant on the bill’s approval.
According to ChatGPT’s latest 90-day projections, XRP’s mean value is now $1.20, a decrease from the previous $1.30, with the $1.20 to $1.23 range viewed as critical in the short term.
Weekly inflows into XRP ETFs have dropped sharply from $110 million to just $19 million, as another Fed rate hike is set to further strain the market.
XRP (CRYPTO:XRP) investors had high hopes for the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act this year, which aimed to establish the commodity status of XRP in federal law, eliminating uncertainties through regulatory changes. Despite being passed to the Senate with 126 Democratic amendments, the bill encountered a procedural setback on September 15, 2026, failing with a 49-50 vote.
Post-vote, XRP ended the day 7.98% lower, impacting all price targets set by analysts earlier this year that were contingent on the bill’s success. Investors find themselves holding the same XRP they owned on Monday, now worth 7.98% less. What lies ahead for the price of XRP?
Stanslavs / Shutterstock.com
90-Day XRP Price Outlook by ChatGPT
NikOStudio / Shutterstock.com
All previously established XRP price forecasts this year were based on the assumption that the bill would be approved. As of September 17, when XRP was valued at $1.30, a new forecast presented a 90-day price range between $0.90 and $1.65, with a mean estimate of $1.20. Unfortunately, this average is lower than the current XRP trading price, indicating that further declines may occur before any potential recovery.
ChatGPT has identified the key price range of $1.20 to $1.23 as a crucial battlefield, suggesting the market is in an “initial phase of weakness/consolidation,” which may eventually lead to an attempt at recovery if ETF demand stabilizes and the wider cryptocurrency market stops declining. If the price falls below this range, it may drop to $0.90, which would indicate that the market is beginning to factor in more profound developments beyond just the legislative setback.
Discover 7 Wealth-Building Secrets Used by Wealthy Investors
What are the best strategies for growing a seven-figure portfolio in retirement? Ensuring that your funds continue to generate sustainable income during your retirement years is crucial.
Geoffrey Kendrick from Standard Chartered originally projected an XRP price of $8.00 for April 2025; this forecast has since been lowered to $2.80 for February 2026. His revised targets of $7.00 for 2027 and $12.60 for 2028 are contingent on the successful passage of the bill and XRP ETF inflows surpassing $4 billion—criteria that remain unmet.
The Future of XRP Without the CLARITY Act
Parilov / Shutterstock.com
On September 16, Stuart Alderoty, Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer, announced on X that “Ripple and XRP are based on stable legal grounding,” referring to the resolution reached following five years of litigation with the SEC. After the SEC and CFTC’s joint declaration on March 17, XRP has attained a classification as a digital commodity that will remain unless altered by a future Commission.
Ripple’s settlement with the SEC, concluded in August 2025, is irreversible. Furthermore, Ripple’s dollar-pegged stablecoin, RLUSD, has circulated $2.442 billion and now constitutes 82% of the stablecoin transactions on the XRP Ledger.
ChatGPT’s 90-day forecast hinges on these factors sustaining, with the principal risk being a potential formal action from the SEC or CFTC to alter XRP’s commodity classification. SEC Chairman Paul Atkins indicated that the agency will act “with or without legislation” on the same day as Alderoty’s statement. Alderoty emphasizes that XRP’s assets remain unchanged following the vote.
Factors That Could Disrupt the Forecast
Tamisclao / Shutterstock.com
The analysis identified one unlikely risk for the upcoming quarter, while two more probable variables are considered outside of its current assumptions.
The first pertains to ETF demand. As of September 16, five US spot XRP ETFs have reported cumulative inflows of $1.71 billion over nine weeks, although the latest weekly figure of $19 million pales in comparison to August’s peak of $110 million.
Retail investors constitute 84% of these inflows, leaving institutions—key players in any bullish outlook—accounting for less than 20%. Significant professional holders include Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS), Jane Street, and Millennium, while CME XRP futures open interest has increased by 36%.
The second factor pertains to the Federal Reserve, which recently implemented a 25-basis-point inflationary increase to a range of 3.75% to 4.00%, boosting yields of Treasury bills. As XRP does not offer dividends, funds may redirect toward more lucrative options. Twelve out of the 18 members of the Federal Open Market Committee anticipate another increase this year within ChatGPT’s forecasting timeframe.
Future Trading Scenarios for XRP
ChatGPT anticipates that XRP will range between $0.90 and $1.65, with the average price pegged at $1.20; however, the anticipated reversal may not be feasible under the current Commission that classified XRP as a digital commodity back in March. The probability of the CLARITY Act achieving legislative status before January 1, 2027, stood at just 20% on the day of the vote.
The next three months for XRP hinge on whether institutional capital flows into the market now that the legislative uncertainty has dissipated. If that occurs, XRP could potentially regain its 200-day moving average of $1.355 and test the $1.65 resistance. Should institutional investment fail to materialize, the coin may hover between $1.20 and $1.23, possibly dipping below its cycle low of $0.9877.
The vote did not diminish XRP’s value but rather eliminated the opportunity to cement what XRP currently holds; this presents a different challenge that may unfold over a longer timeline. Key upcoming events that could affect XRP’s price include the SEC’s comment deadline on October 20 and Ripple’s Swell conference scheduled for October 27 to 29.
Discover 7 Wealth-Building Secrets Used by Wealthy Investors
What are the most effective methods for enhancing a seven-figure portfolio during retirement? It’s crucial for your funds to provide enduring income so you don’t outlive your savings while enjoying your life.
