XRP News Today: Institutions Bet on XRP's ETF Potential as Bitcoin Consolidates

XRP, the digital asset issued by Ripple, has emerged as a focal point for investors seeking alternatives to Bitcoin amid a volatile crypto market. Despite a recent 5% decline to $2.40, analysts argue that XRP's regulatory progress, institutional adoption, and upcoming exchange listings position it as a stronger long-term play than Bitcoin, according to a Benzinga report. This optimism is fueled by Ripple's strategic moves, including the launch of Ripple Prime—a platform enabling U.S. institutions to trade XRP and its stablecoin RLUSD like traditional stocks—and the potential approval of spot XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) within weeks, as noted in a Coinotag article.

The crypto market's broader slump, marked by a 3.1% drop in total market capitalization to $3.69 trillion, has not deterred bullish sentiment around XRP. While Bitcoin fell to $107,868 and Ethereum to $3,714, XRP's price action has drawn attention from traders and analysts. Whale Alert reported that Ripple unlocked 1 billion XRP (worth $2.4 billion) in October, signaling efforts to stabilize the market amid selling pressure, as Benzinga noted. Javon Marks, a crypto analyst, highlighted XRP's historical performance, noting its 570% surge in the previous cycle and predicting a potential 600% outperformance over Bitcoin if the current bull run resumes, another point raised in the Benzinga coverage.

Regulatory developments further bolster XRP's case. The first spot XRP ETFs could launch within two weeks, according to Nate Geraci of The ETF Store, following Ripple's landmark legal victory against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a development covered by Benzinga. Meanwhile, Ripple's acquisition of GTreasury and its $1 billion RLUSD stablecoin milestone underscore its growing influence in corporate finance, as reported by Coinotag.

However, challenges persist. The Balancer DeFi protocol's $128.6 million hack in early November intensified market jitters, exacerbating XRP's bearish technical indicators, according to a Coinotag report. XRP's price remains below the $2.5 level, with traders watching for a potential retest of $2.20 support, according to an Invezz forecast. Vincent Van Code, an XRP community analyst, warned that a future cash influx from Evernorth's planned IPO—aimed at raising $1 billion for an XRP treasury—could trigger a "supply shock" if liquidity is insufficient, a scenario discussed in a TradingView post.

Institutional interest in XRP is also being driven by its integration into traditional finance. Ripple Prime's over-the-counter (OTC) trading model allows firms to hedge XRP positions with derivatives, mirroring conventional portfolio management — a point Coinotag previously highlighted. This aligns with broader trends where older altcoins like XRP and Cardano are expected to dominate altcoin season 2025, as institutional capital prioritizes ETF-eligible assets with regulatory clarity, according to a CardanoFeed article. Maen Ftouni of CoinQuant noted that "dinosaur" coins with established ecosystems will capture most institutional flows, contrasting with speculative smaller tokens.

Bitcoin's transition into an "IPO-like phase," as described by Wall Street veteran Jordi Visser, further highlights the shifting dynamics. With Bitcoin consolidating at $107,000 and losing volatility, XRP's potential for higher returns in a more stable market environment is gaining traction, a development earlier covered by Coinotag. Analysts project that if Bitcoin reaches $180,000 by year-end—a scenario some view as a catalyst for altcoins—XRP could surge into the "teens" price range, contingent on liquidity and regulatory momentum, according to a LiveBitcoinNews piece.