[Digital Today reporter Jinju Hong (홍진주)] A data-driven artificial intelligence (AI) model from Chinese tech company Alibaba projected that XRP could rise to $7 by Christmas on Dec. 25 this year.

The Crypto Basic, a blockchain outlet, reported on April 13 that the AI model presented $7 as a leading target for XRP in a long-term outlook covering major cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin (BTC) and ethereum (ETH).

A notable point in the projection was that $7 appeared in common across multiple clusters of data inputs. Analysts who reviewed the results judged that the price level was repeatedly shown as a consistent value across the model’s outputs.

Some analysts broadened the scope to reflect the pace of expanding institutional adoption and Ripple’s global cross-border payment partnerships. In that case, more aggressive scenarios also emerged. Applying growth patterns from past cryptocurrency market cycles yields a calculation that XRP could rise to $42. Still, such scenarios are closer to assumptions premised on a sharp acceleration in adoption and market momentum.

The gap with the current price is large. XRP trades at around $1.32, meaning it would need to rise about 430 percent to reach $7. In the $42 scenario, the gain exceeds 3,000 percent. If either case materialises, XRP would far surpass the all-time high it recorded in 2018.

Market reactions are mixed. Some XRP supporters have voiced expectations that it could reach the target price over the long term, while others have expressed scepticism about achieving it in a short period. XRP is down 28.26 percent so far in 2026 from the start of the year, prompting comments that recent moves alone make it hard to expect a sharp rebound.

Differences with other AI models’ projections also stood out. Google Gemini saw XRP reaching about $3.15 by the end of this year, while OpenAI’s ChatGPT expected a $2.4 to $4.2 range depending on the macro environment. A bearish scenario also mentioned the possibility of falling below $1. xAI’s Grok also offered a more conservative outlook, citing the possibility of a rebound to the low-$3 range.

Ultimately, Alibaba AI’s $7 projection carries meaning as a long-term target, but the market is focusing on how outcomes could vary widely depending on factors such as the pace of adoption, capital inflows and the macro environment. With uncertainty around XRP’s price still high, future market momentum and whether real-world usage expands are expected to act as key variables.