Grayscale Calls XRP a ‘Battle-Tested Blockchain’ as New Altcoin ETFs Launch

Grayscale is putting fresh attention on XRP just as its new XRP ETF begins competing with Solana’s strong ETF inflows. In a recent discussion with Paul Barron, Grayscale’s Head of Research, Zach Pandl, described XRP as a “battle-tested blockchain.”

His comments arrive at a time when both XRP and Solana are attracting institutional interest from investors looking beyond Bitcoin. Solana has become the go-to network for fast apps and high yields, while XRP is still known for its speed, liquidity, and long track record of surviving brutal market cycles.

Institutions Don’t Want to Choose Just One

Pandl said the assets serve different purposes, but both matter. Solana is built for high-speed smart contracts; XRP was designed for payments but has grown far beyond that. He says most institutions won’t pick a single winner — they’ll simply want exposure to both.

Which ETF Wins? Not So Simple

When pushed on which ETF could outperform long term, Pandl joked that choosing between them was like choosing between his own kids. What he did say clearly: Bitcoin still gets the largest slice of institutional capital, with Ethereum right behind it. Everything else,  XRP, Solana, and the broader altcoin pack, will fight for their share of the growing tokenized economy.

XRP Staking? Grayscale Says It’s on the Table

The discussion also revived excitement around the possibility of XRP staking, a topic that has long circulated in the community.

Pandl confirmed that Grayscale is actively evaluating staking across its ETF lineup. The firm already introduced staking to its U.S. Ethereum ETF this year and now offers staked ETH and staked SOL products. With clearer tax guidance from U.S. regulators, Grayscale believes staking will become a standard feature across many crypto ETFs over time.