Pundit: Never Predicted XRP to Reach $1,000 in 2025, Says Facing Backlash for Predictions Never Made

XRP community figure Zach Rector has moved to clarify claims circulating online that he predicted XRP would reach $1,000 this year.

In a recent post on X, Rector stated that he never made a $1,000 XRP prediction. He distanced himself from the claim and from other commentators whose forecasts have drawn backlash.

Just to be clear, I am not Jake Claver and I did NOT predict XRP going to $1000 this year. It’s unfortunate that myself and other XRP content creators are taking backlash for predictions we didn’t make. pic.twitter.com/GcIxpzBpYc

— Zach Rector (@ZachRector7) December 22, 2025

This comes as the year winds down and XRP is trading under $2. Accordingly, widely promoted forecasts of double-digit, triple-digit, and beyond have remained far from reality.

Amid this, some analysts have owned up to their failed predictions, revising their timelines. Meanwhile, ambitious forecasts of $100 and $1,000 are under heavy criticism. Rector has said the criticism directed at him is based on predictions he did not make.

He also clarified that he is not Jake Claver, whose failed price projections are at the center of recent criticism.

You’d be surprised. I’ve received dozens of comments recently of people blaming me for the $1000 prediction this year.

— Zach Rector (@ZachRector7) December 22, 2025

Backlash Across YouTube and Social Media

As XRP’s price continues to lag, criticism of XRP commentators has grown in YouTube comment sections and X social platforms.

YouTube user @20helson said many XRP influencers have lost credibility because they make repeated short-term promises that don’t materialize. They mentioned Jake Claver predicted XRP would reach $100–$700 by year-end, and said that constantly pushing back timelines hurts trust.

Another user, @TheCaptainsCorner64, questioned how these forecasts can be justified when they miss the mark by hundreds of dollars, saying it damages credibility, especially when tied to specific dates.

Jake Claver’s XRP Price Prediction

In March, Rector hosted crypto CEO Jake Claver on a podcast, where Claver discussed how XRP could potentially reach four-digit prices. He highlighted XRP’s role in global finance, citing projects such as R3’s Project Ion and the DTCC, which enable real-time settlement of digital assets.

Claver said that if XRP captured just 10% of SWIFT’s $5 trillion in daily transactions, its price could reach $50–$100. He added that limited supply and escrowed holdings could further support price growth.

He also noted institutional interest, including 17 XRP-related ETF filings, which could bring additional liquidity. While most of these ETFs are now live, the spot products have attracted over $1.1 billion in XRP investment. Yet the price remains low.

XRP ETF records

Rector himself estimated ETFs could push XRP to $20–$30 in the near term, but the current price remains far off those levels.

Meanwhile, Claver further argued that in the event of a financial crisis, XRP could help stabilize markets, and that rising demand combined with limited supply could drive prices into the four-digit range.

Essentially, Claver’s analysis suggests XRP could far exceed current prices by the end of next year. But as the current year concludes, the price has continued to dip. Notably, Claver also famously predicted that the XRP price would reach $10,000 in “24 months.”

Rector Predicted $100 XRP in 2025

While Rector distanced himself from the $1,000 price outlook for 2025, he has made a similarly bold forecast of $100 by year-end, which has also attracted backlash.

Just last week, Rector revised his timeline for XRP reaching $100 to 2030. His earlier claim, made in November, drew attention for its aggressive optimism at a time when XRP’s price was already bearish.

Critics accused him of moving the goalposts and losing credibility. Some urge influencers to stop making specific price predictions altogether.