XRP News Today: Institutional Demand and Fee Cuts Drive XRP ETFs Past Bitcoin

The crypto ETF landscape is undergoing a dramatic shift as XRP and Solana (SOL) products outpace Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) in attracting institutional and retail capital. Spot XRP ETFs, including Grayscale's GXRP and Franklin Templeton's XRPZ, have surged past $587 million in cumulative inflows since their November launch, eclipsing Solana's $568 million in a month-long period. This trend marks a reversal in investor sentiment, with XRP's aggressive pricing strategies—such as Franklin's 0.19% fee waiver on the first $5 billion—drawing capital at a pace nearly double Solana's. Meanwhile, Bitcoin ETFs recorded $151 million in outflows in early November, while Ethereum's inflows, though steady, lagged behind XRP's.

The XRP ETF surge is fueled by a strategic "race to zero" on fees and institutional demand for cross-border utility. Franklin Templeton's XRPZ and Grayscale's GXRP debut with $62.6 million and $67.4 million in single-day inflows, respectively, surpassing even Bitwise's SOL ETF (BSOL). These products now absorb approximately $50 million daily, creating a demand sink that stabilizes XRP's price amid a 17% 30-day drawdown. In contrast, Solana ETFs, while posting 20 consecutive days of inflows, faced a $8.1 million outflow on November 27, signaling a temporary shift in risk appetite. Analysts attribute XRP's edge to its role in real-world applications, such as cross-currency settlements, which align with institutional interest in utility-driven assets.

Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, meanwhile, struggle with macroeconomic headwinds. BTC ETFs saw $151 million in outflows as investors rotated into lower-volatility assets, while ETH ETFs added $96.6 million, driven by BlackRock's ETHA. Ethereum's price remains under pressure, trading at $2,950 as of November 27, though institutional buyers continue to view dips as opportunities according to market analysis. Tom Lee of Fundstrat, whose firm BitMine Immersion recently added $83 million in ETH, forecasts a rebound to $7,500 by year-end, citing "quantitative tightening effects" and growing staking demand.

The broader implications of this ETF realignment are profound. XRP's $587 million in inflows now represent 0.49% of its market cap, while Solana's $568 million accounts for 1.15% according to market data. These figures highlight a maturing market where institutional capital is increasingly selective, favoring assets with clear utility and regulatory clarity. Bloomberg's Eric Balchunas notes that XRP ETFs could hit $1.5 billion in AUM by year-end, with a "bull case" scenario projecting $2 billion if fee waivers sustain demand.

As the ETF race intensifies, the crypto market's narrative is shifting from Bitcoin dominance to a diversified ecosystem. While BTC and ETH remain central to macro hedging and long-term adoption, XRP and SOL are carving out niches in institutional portfolios. This dynamic underscores the growing role of ETFs in legitimizing altcoins, with XRP's performance suggesting a new era of competitive, utility-driven capital flows.