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- Anjali Belgaumkar
Anjali Belgaumkar
Writer by choice, CryptoCurrency Writer, and Researcher by chance. Currently, focusing on financial news and analysis, as well as cryptocurrency news and data. One may not call me a crypto “Enthusiast” but trust me I'm getting there.
- Reviewed by:
Qadir AKQadir Ak is the founder of Coinpedia. He has over a decade of experience writing about technology and has been covering the blockchain and cryptocurrency space since 2010. He has also interviewed a few prominent experts within the cryptocurrency space.
- Sep 27, 2025 03:27 UTC
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XRP ETF Approval Odds Surge to 99%, but Expert Says ‘ETFs Will Be Irrelevant in 5 Years’
Traders give XRP ETF approval over 99% odds for 2025, but experts say ETFs may fade as younger investors shift toward direct on-chain ownership.
Flare Network’s Hugo Philion predicts crypto ETFs will be “irrelevant” within five years as blockchain-native investing replaces traditional wrappers.
XRP is making headlines again as investors look ahead to a possible green light from the SEC and the launch of an ETF. On prediction site Polymarket, traders now place the odds of a Ripple ETF being approved in 2025 at more than 99 percent. With expectations running high, one expert has stepped in with an unexpected take.
ETFs Popular With Older Investors
Crypto ETFs have been praised as a gateway for traditional investors, but one industry voice says their relevance will not last long. Hugo Philion, co-founder of the Flare Network, said he expects ETFs to be “irrelevant” within five years.
On the Paul Barron Podcast, Philion explained that older generations, including baby boomers and Gen X, control most wealth today. They prefer familiar financial products such as ETFs, which helps explain the strong demand for spot crypto funds. But he argued that younger generations are more comfortable holding assets directly on blockchains, and that shift will reshape how money flows into crypto.
Shift Toward Direct On-Chain Ownership
He added that broader economic pressures could speed up the move away from ETFs. Unfunded retirement liabilities, growing government debt, and financial uncertainty may push investors to adopt blockchain-based finance more quickly than expected.
According to Philion, the market’s celebration around ETF approvals is short-sighted. He said that the future lies in direct on-chain ownership, not traditional wrappers. If his view proves correct, today’s enthusiasm for ETFs could look outdated within a few years.
“I think the rejoicing around ETFs is hilarious because I think in five years, ETFs will be irrelevant,” Philion said.
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FAQs
Traders give XRP ETF approval over 99% odds in 2025, but market shifts could change its long-term impact.
While popular now, some experts argue crypto ETFs may become less relevant as younger investors, familiar with blockchain, prefer direct on-chain ownership over traditional funds.
Crypto ETFs are popular primarily with older investors like baby boomers and Gen X, who control significant wealth and are more comfortable with traditional, familiar financial products.
The future is shifting toward direct on-chain ownership, where users hold assets on the blockchain itself, moving beyond intermediary products like ETFs for greater control.
Yes 
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