Is XRP the new Bitcoin? Why Wall Street can’t stop talking about its ETF

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Key takeaways

  • XRP ETF speech has moved from Crypto Twitter to Wall Street trading desks.

  • Analysts accidental the archetypal fewer months of inflows could apical $1 billion.

  • SEC regularisation changes person streamlined spot crypto money listings.

  • Approval isn’t guaranteed, but momentum is gathering fast.

Talk of a spot XRP (XRP) exchange-traded money (ETF) has shifted from Crypto Twitter to existent trading desks.

Two factors are driving it. First, ETF specialists Nate Geraci and Bitwise main concern serviceman Matt Hougan accidental the marketplace is underestimating request for a spot XRP ETF. Geraci has warned that investors are “severely” underestimating the flows, and Hougan has said the money could scope astir $1 cardinal successful assets wrong its archetypal fewer months of trading.

Second, the US marketplace infrastructure for spot crypto funds has evolved. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has adopted generic listing standards that shorten the support way for definite spot crypto ETFs, and exchanges person already begun listing altcoin products nether the caller framework.

None of this guarantees an XRP approval, but it explains wherefore the speech has turned serious.

What is simply a spot XRP ETF?

A spot XRP ETF would clasp XRP with a qualified custodian and contented shares that way the fund’s nett plus worth done the modular instauration and redemption process. This operation matters due to the fact that it allows XRP vulnerability wrong brokerage accounts, advisor exemplary portfolios and status platforms, offering acquainted reporting and taxation treatment.

It’s antithetic from a futures-based product, which tracks derivatives alternatively than the plus itself and tin diverge from spot prices. The SEC’s September 2025 regularisation alteration didn’t o.k. each crypto ETF, but it created a azygous starting enactment alternatively of one-off approvals.

Where US approvals stand

In mid-September 2025, the SEC adopted generic listing standards allowing large exchanges to database definite spot crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs) nether a azygous regularisation acceptable alternatively of one-off approvals. The alteration streamlined the listing process but did not region regulatory oversight oregon reappraisal for non-qualifying products.

Then came the October authorities shutdown, which slowed unit reviews. Even so, a fistful of altcoin spot products, including Litecoin (LTC) and Hedera (HBAR), moved guardant done existing pathways. Those should beryllium seen arsenic borderline cases, not a broad approval.

For XRP, respective well-known issuers person already filed oregon signaled their intent. Timelines whitethorn inactive displacement arsenic the SEC considers 3 acquainted questions:

  • Surveillance: Are markets monitorable and resistant to manipulation?

  • Custody: Is plus safekeeping robust and insured?

  • Investor protection: Will pricing and disclosures clasp up successful the existent world?

In short, the roadworthy is open, products are queued, but nary US spot XRP ETF has received support yet.

How large could flows be?

The bullish lawsuit rests connected 3 factors:

  1. Distribution: Advisers similar ETFs implicit opening speech accounts for clients. An ETF unlocks registered concern advisor and status channels.

  2. Infrastructure already built: Authorized participants, marketplace makers and surveillance agreements established for Bitcoin and Ether (ETH) ETFs tin widen to other spot products.

  3. A chiseled thesis: XRP’s long-standing transportation centers connected cross-border payments and settlement, giving allocators a communicative chiseled from Bitcoin’s “digital gold.

Based connected that setup, Geraci and Hougan reason that first-wave request could transcend expectations, perchance surpassing $1 cardinal aboriginal on. It’s a projection, not a promise, but it explains wherefore trading desks are already modeling scenarios.

What could clasp it back?

Even with generic standards, support isn’t automatic. The SEC tin inactive question whether spot XRP markets are sufficiently resistant to manipulation and whether surveillance sharing is robust. It whitethorn besides reappraisal whether custody and security arrangements are capable and whether pricing sources are reliable crossed venues.

The authorities shutdown created backlogs that whitethorn clump decisions until aboriginal successful the year. The roadworthy is shorter than it was successful 2023-2024, but it inactive has checkpoints.

Getting XRP vulnerability contiguous (before immoderate US ETF)

Investors extracurricular the US already person entree to physically backed ETPs that clasp XRP directly.

Two of the largest are 21Shares XRP ETP (AXRP), listed connected the Swiss Stock Exchange, and CoinShares Physical XRP, disposable connected assorted European exchanges. These are not US ETFs; they are locally governed ETPs with antithetic capitalist protections and taxation treatment.

US investors tin besides bargain XRP connected compliant cryptocurrency exchanges, but that way involves self-custody decisions, speech counterparty hazard and fragmented trading venues.

So, is XRP “the caller Bitcoin?”

That’s the incorrect mode to deliberation astir it.

Bitcoin’s concern communicative centers connected scarcity and macro hedging, portion XRP’s focuses connected payments infrastructure and accelerated settlement. If an XRP ETF launches, it volition not regenerate Bitcoin’s role. It would broaden the paper for advisers seeking a payments-themed allocation wrong accepted accounts.

Pricing and liquidity volition inactive beryllium connected the underlying spot markets and the ETF’s quality to way them closely. Creation and redemption efficiency, spreads and market-maker extent volition each play a role.

XRP’s ETF moment: Closer, but not determination yet

Indeed, Wall Street’s involvement successful an XRP ETF is not conscionable clickbait. The mechanics are present familiar, the organisation channels are successful place, and credible analysts judge request could astonishment to the upside.

But the SEC inactive needs to o.k. the product, and timing tin displacement with staffing changes and market-quality reviews. If you’re tracking this story, abstracted support likelihood from the concern case: ticker the filings, recognize however the ETF would clasp and terms XRP, and beryllium wide astir the differences betwixt US ETFs and non-US ETPs disposable today.

This nonfiction does not incorporate concern proposal oregon recommendations. Every concern and trading determination involves risk, and readers should behaviour their ain probe erstwhile making a decision.

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