XRP news today: CME Group Launches XRP Futures Amid 141% Contract Growth

CME Group, a prominent derivative marketplace, has announced the launch of XRP Futures on May 19, driven by the increasing demand for crypto investment products. This move comes as institutional interest in XRP surges in the second quarter of 2025, with anticipation building around a potential spot ETF approval in the United States. Despite short-term volatility in the crypto market, bullish investors are targeting a new rally above the $6 mark for XRP.

In a recent statement, CME Group revealed plans to introduce a new XRP product, which has gained significant traction among various firms this year. The new offering will provide traders with two contract sizes: a micro-sized contract consisting of 2,500 XRP and a large-sized contract with 50,000 XRP. These contracts will be cash-settled and will integrate the CME CF XRP-Dollar Reference Rate, adding to CME Group's expanding suite of crypto products, which already includes options for Bitcoin (BTC), Ether, and Solana (SOL).

The growing demand for these products is evident from the first quarter of 2025, where there was a 141% increase in daily contracts worth $11.8 billion. Average open interest has risen by 83% year-over-year, and since March 17, 43,000 SOL futures have been traded. Giovanni Vicioso, CME Group’s Global Head of Cryptocurrency Products, emphasized the importance of innovation in evolving markets and the necessity for more diverse products to meet investor needs. He stated, “Interest in XRP and its underlying ledger (XRPL) has steadily increased as institutional and retail adoption for the network grows, and we are pleased to launch these new futures contracts to provide a capital-efficient toolset to support clients’ investment and hedging strategies.”

The announcement has been met with positive reactions from the crypto market, with XRP bulls aiming for higher price points. This optimism is fueled by new fund flows and the current bullish sentiment in the market. Financial market executives have also praised the move, highlighting the importance of expanding retail access to futures. JB Mackenzie, Robinhood’s Futures VP, noted that customers have shown increased demand for new products, pledging to offer a wider range of crypto futures in addition to spot offerings. Sal Gilberte, the CEO of Teucrium, described the proposed CME Group listing as another milestone in the XRP ecosystem, emphasizing the asset's real financial use cases, such as facilitating global transfers through the efficient XRP Ledger. Gilberte's positive stance on XRP was further reinforced after the firm launched the 2x Daily Long XRP ETF.