Exclusive: Expert Says Double-Digit XRP Price ‘Unrealistic’ as ETFs Hit $1 Billion

XRP exchange-traded funds have gathered more than $1 billion in assets only a couple of weeks after going live, a pace that many in the market say is unusually fast for new financial products. Five issuers — Bitwise, Canary, Franklin Templeton, Grayscale and Rex Osprey — launched their funds in staggered phases and still managed to pull in strong inflows within just 11 to 12 trading days. At today’s prices, the ETFs now hold about 473 million XRP, locked inside these investment vehicles.

Despite the size of the inflows, the story has barely made its way to everyday investors. Some experts say this shows how unaware most people still are of crypto ETFs, even as Wall Street moves quickly to adopt them. 

Others say interest could grow if regulatory clarity improves in the U.S., especially now that Ripple’s legal dispute has ended and new policy proposals like the Clarity Act are gaining attention.

Strong ETF Demand Meets Weak Price

Even with the rapid growth of these funds, XRP’s price has struggled. The token is fighting to stay above $2.03, with sellers consistently pushing it lower. 

In an interview with Coinpedia, Nischal Shetty, Co-founder of Shardeum, said that expecting XRP to reach double-digit levels based only on ETF demand is unrealistic. He explained that early flows into new crypto ETFs usually come from short-term traders, not long-term institutions. Larger investors, he said, look for real-world settlement volumes, reliable liquidity and clear regulation before making major allocations.

“Purely ETF-driven double-digit pricing is unrealistic. ETF access improves liquidity and distribution, but it doesn’t replace utility. Sustainable value comes from real settlement demand, enterprise adoption,consistent volumes and regulatory acceptance,” he said.

Shetty added that ETFs can improve access, but they cannot replace the utility that gives a payments token long-term value.