XRP News Today: XRP Defies Bear Market as ETF Inflows Outpace Retail Exodus

Ripple's XRP price held steady above $2.25 on Friday, maintaining a market capitalization of approximately $135 billion as institutional demand surged following the launch of the first U.S. spot XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF). According to reports, Canary Capital's XRPC ETF, which debuted on November 14, generated $58.5 million in trading volume on its first day, outperforming other crypto ETFs and signaling renewed interest in altcoins amid a broader bearish market. The fund also attracted over $250 million in inflows, driven by its in-kind redemption model, which allows investors to exchange ETF shares for XRP tokens directly.

The ETF's success was bolstered by regulatory clarity following the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) approval of in-kind creation and redemption for crypto ETFs in July. Steven McClurg, CEO of Canary Capital, emphasized that XRP's role in the Ripple payment network and its accessibility through ETFs could drive "the next wave of adoption and growth in a critical blockchain system". The fund's performance outpaced the $57 million first-day volume of Bitwise's Solana Staking ETF, marking it as the most successful ETF launch of 2025. .

Whale activity further underscored confidence in XRP's long-term potential. A major investor, identified as 0x9ee, added 23,000 XRP to their holdings in the past 8 hours, increasing their long position to $52.2 million. Despite an unrealized loss of $1.14 million, the whale's total position size across ETH and XRP reached $197.2 million, making it the largest long on Hyperliquid for both assets. This activity contrasts with broader market trends, where XRP's circulating supply in profit fell to a one-year low of 44 million tokens, reflecting widespread unrealized losses among holders.

Market analysts noted mixed signals for XRP's short-term outlook. While the ETF-driven inflows provided a tailwind, retail demand remained weak, with futures open interest averaging $3.78 billion-down from $4.17 billion in early November. Technical indicators also pointed to bearish pressure, with XRP trading below key moving averages and the Relative Strength Index at 43, suggesting lingering risk-off sentiment. However, some observers argue that the shrinking supply available for sale could signal a market bottom, with investors shifting to new opportunities as liquidity tightens.

Institutional adoption appears to be a key differentiator for XRP. Unlike Solana, which remains more entrenched in crypto-native ecosystems, XRP's familiarity with traditional finance players positions it to outperform in ETF-driven growth, according to Canary Capital's McClurg. This dynamic was evident in the XRPC ETF's launch, which drew $26 million in trading volume within the first 30 minutes-surpassing analyst estimates-while XRP's price rose 3% to $2.42.

The ETF's success also highlighted broader market dynamics. Smart money traders added $44 million in net long XRP positions over the past 24 hours, signaling renewed optimism. Meanwhile, the SEC's recent approval of XRP ETFs and the closure of its lawsuit against Ripple in July have bolstered regulatory confidence, with XRP's market cap expanding to $146 billion in early November.

As institutional investors continue to test new ways to package blockchain-native features into regulated products, XRP's performance will likely hinge on sustained ETF inflows and macroeconomic factors. With the Fed's hawkish stance dampening broader crypto sentiment, XRP's ability to attract institutional capital could determine whether it sustains its market cap above $135 billion in the coming months.

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