Ripple News: First-Ever XRP Futures ETF Launches May 22 via Volatility Shares

XRP is back in the news as Volatility Shares prepares to launch the first-ever XRP Futures ETF on May 22, trading under the ticker XRPI. This move signals growing interest in XRP and could be an important step for the token’s future in the market.

As per a recent filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on May 21, the fund will start trading on Nasdaq. It’s the first 1x futures ETF linked to XRP, offering a new way for investors to gain exposure to the asset through a regulated channel. The fund will invest in XRP futures via a Cayman Islands-based subsidiary, with at least 80% of its assets connected to XRP-related investments.

Industry analysts, including Eric Balchunas from Bloomberg, say that this is a positive sign of increasing demand from traders and institutions. Futures products like this help bring more liquidity into the market and allow both bullish and bearish positions, making trading more flexible. Moves like this are also seen as early steps that could eventually lead to a spot ETF for XRP — something the crypto community has been hoping for, especially after Bitcoin’s ETF success.

More XRP ETFs Coming: 2x Leverage, Inverse Bets, and $120M Already in Play

Volatility Shares also plans to launch a 2x XRP futures ETF, which will give investors twice the daily price gains of XRP by using leveraged exposure to XRP futures. A 2x XRP futures (XXRP) was recently launched by Teucrium Investment Advisors on April 8. It traded $5.43 million on its debut. 

The Tectrium 2x Long Daily XRP ETF already has $120 million in assets and a massive $35 million daily trading volume. ProShares is also planning to launch three XRP ETFs: one with 2x leverage (Ultra XRP), one with -2x inverse exposure (UltraShort XRP), and a standard inverse fund (Short XRP), according to its April 15 SEC filing.

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Spot ETF Approvals Still Pending

Recently, the CME launched regulated XRP futures and micro XRP futures on May 19, with a $19 million volume. However, spot XRP ETF approvals are still pending. Nine spot XRP ETF applications, including one from Wall Street giant Franklin Templeton, are still awaiting SEC approval.

The SEC has delayed decisions on proposed spot XRP ETFs from Grayscale and 21Shares. Bloomberg analyst James Seyffart says a realistic timeline for spot XRP ETFs could be in early Q4 this year. The Polymarket prediction platform shows more than 80% chance of XRP ETF approval this year. 

The crypto market is up today, as Bitcoin broke out of its previous all-time high. It is currently trading at $111,424, up over 4% in the past day. XRP is also up over 2% and is currently trading at $2.42. 

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