XRP News Today: Institutional Bet: XRP’s $1B Open Interest Milestone Signals Maturing Crypto Market

XRP, the third-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, has seen a resurgence in recent trading sessions, climbing over 6% in the past 24 hours. The rally comes as derivatives market data indicates growing institutional interest in the token, with open interest for XRP futures at the CME surpassing $1 billion in just over three months—making it the fastest contract to reach that threshold. This milestone signals increasing maturity in crypto derivatives markets and underscores the potential for broader adoption of XRP in both speculative and utility-based contexts.

The recent price rebound followed a period of volatility driven by macroeconomic concerns, including elevated inflation data and warnings from major U.S. retailers about rising price pressures. Additionally, uncertainty surrounding regulatory developments—particularly the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) delayed decision on two XRP-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs)—weighed on sentiment. The Grayscale XRP Trust is now expected to receive a ruling on October 18, while the 21Shares Core XRP Trust decision is slated for October 19. Analysts suggest these delays reflect the complexity of the regulatory environment, but also highlight a broader trend of regulatory optimism in the crypto space.

Support for XRP as a viable digital asset is bolstered by recent developments in U.S. policy, including executive orders under the Trump administration encouraging the adoption of digital assets. SEC Chair Paul Atkins, a vocal supporter of crypto-friendly policies, has positioned the agency to be more accommodating than its previous leadership. These factors have led some investors to view the October decisions as potential catalysts for XRP’s inclusion in publicly traded funds. Keith Noonan, a top investor, argues that current conditions present an attractive entry point, with political and regulatory tailwinds likely to outweigh near-term bearish pressures from macroeconomic factors such as inflation and interest rate uncertainty.

Beyond regulatory considerations, XRP’s utility in cross-border payments and remittances is gaining traction. Ripple’s XRP Ledger (XRPL) has seen improvements in liquidity and efficiency, including the implementation of a native automated market maker (AMM) through the XLS-30 amendment. This development is expected to enhance the token’s role in decentralized finance (DeFi) and institutional use cases. With the global remittance market reaching $685 billion in 2024 and average fees remaining above the UN’s target of 3%, XRP’s ability to facilitate low-cost, high-speed transactions is increasingly relevant to financial institutions and service providers.

Looking ahead, analyst forecasts for XRP remain mixed. A Finder expert panel in July 2025 predicted an average price of $2.80 by the end of 2025, with potential to rise to $5.25 by 2030, contingent on adoption and liquidity improvements. While these projections assume successful ETF approvals and growing institutional participation, bearish perspectives caution against potential competition from stablecoins and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). Additionally, technical execution risks remain, particularly if the XRPL faces scalability challenges under high-demand scenarios.

XRP’s current price stands at approximately $2.91, with a market capitalization of around $173 billion. Daily trading volume frequently exceeds $2 billion, and liquidity metrics have improved in recent months, with tighter spreads and better execution quality reported across major exchanges. These trends suggest a maturing market environment that could attract further institutional investment, particularly if XRP’s regulatory status becomes more defined in the coming months.

Source: [1] 'Load Up Ahead of October,' Says Top Investor About Ripple (XRP) (https://www.tipranks.com/news/load-up-ahead-of-october-says-top-investor-about-ripple-xrp) [2] Where Will XRP Be In 5 Years? Price Prediction and Analysis (https://www.forbes.com/sites/digital-assets/article/where-will-xrp-be-in-5-years/) [3] Ripple's XRP Leads Advance in Major Cryptos (https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2025/08/26/xrp-jumps-8-to-top-market-gainers-solana-dogecoin-also-rise) [4] XRP to USD: XRP Price in US Dollar (https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/xrp/usd) [5] First Bitcoin, Then Ethereum: Will Ripple's XRP Be the Next ... (https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/first-bitcoin-then-ethereum-will-ripples-xrp-be-next-target-crypto-treasury-strategy)