XRP News Today: SBI's XRP Lending Ignites Institutional Frenzy as SEC Deadline Looms

XRP surged 5.2% to $2.97 in a 24-hour period from October 1 to October 2, 2025, driven by Japan's SBI Holdings launching an institutional XRP lending program and anticipation of U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) decisions on seven spot ETF applications scheduled for October 18 . The token's price action saw trading volumes exceed 160 million tokens, more than double the daily average, with key resistance levels at $2.96–$2.98 consolidating after multiple retests . Analysts highlighted that SBI's initiative, targeting large-scale cross-border payments, could enhance XRP's liquidity in Asian markets, while the SEC's ETF decision remains a critical catalyst for institutional adoption .

Technical analysis indicated that support had shifted to $2.93 following repeated defenses, with bulls requiring a close above $2.98 to confirm momentum toward the $3.00 psychological barrier . The hourly chart displayed an ascending structure, with higher lows forming at $2.96–$2.97 before sellers capped the advance at $2.98 . Analyst Ali Martinez noted that a breakout above $2.94 could push XRP toward $3.00–$3.15, though bearish divergence on weekly charts posed a counterbalance .

The regulatory landscape added urgency to XRP's trajectory. SBI's Q2 2025 earnings report revealed its filing for Japan's first crypto ETFs, including a dual-asset fund tracking Bitcoin and XRP, potentially positioning Japan ahead of the U.S. in institutional adoption . Meanwhile, the U.S. faces a critical October 18 deadline for seven XRP ETF applications, with approval expected to unlock billions in institutional capital and drive liquidity .

Institutional demand was further underscored by Ripple's strategic partnerships, including collaborations with SBI Holdings (9% equity stake) and BNY Mellon, which strengthened XRP's utility in cross-border payments and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization . Ripple's recent legal victory and acquisition of Hidden Road, a prime brokerage bridging traditional finance and crypto, reinforced its role as a liquidity hub for institutional investors .

Traders are monitoring three key factors: (1) XRP's ability to sustain closes above $2.96–$2.98 to test the $3.00 level, (2) the impact of SBI's lending program on Asian liquidity flows and U.S. market participation, and (3) positioning shifts ahead of the SEC's ETF decision window . Analysts at Changelly projected an average XRP price of $3.19 for October 2025, while regulatory clarity from the SEC and OCC's review of Ripple's banking charter could further legitimize XRP as a regulated asset .

The broader crypto market reflected heightened activity, with total trading volume hitting a yearly high of $9.72 trillion in August 2025 . XRP's rally aligned with a 4–5% surge in the CD20 index, indicating peer tokens shared elevated institutional interest .

[1] XRP Jumps 5% as SBI Lending Program and ETF Countdown Fuel Rally (https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2025/10/02/xrp-jumps-5-as-sbi-lending-program-and-etf-countdown-fuel-rally)

[2] XRP Price Prediction: Token Rallies Following Japan's SBI Institutional Lending Launch (https://coincentral.com/xrp-price-prediction-token-rallies-following-japans-sbi-institutional-lending-launch/)

[3] XRP Surges 5% Amid SBI Lending Program and ETF Decision Anticipation (https://holder.io/news/xrp-surges-sbi-lending-etf-anticipation/)

[4] XRP Price To Hit $10 In October? - Forbes (https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2025/09/11/xrp-price-to-hit-10-in-october/)

[5] XRP Price Prediction if XRP ETF Hits $10 Billion in Inflows (https://coinpedia.org/news/xrp-price-prediction-if-xrp-etf-hits-10-billion-in-inflows/)

[6] SBI Files for Bitcoin–XRP ETF in Japan (https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2025/08/06/sbi-files-for-bitcoin-xrp-etf-in-japan-pushing-dual-crypto-exposure-into-regulated-markets)