XRP News Today: Institutions Embrace XRP and RLUSD as Bitnomial Expands Collateral Options

Bitnomial, a U.S.-based digital asset derivatives exchange, has expanded its margin collateral options to include Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin and XRP, marking a significant step in the evolution of crypto derivatives trading. The move allows traders to use stablecoin and XRP holdings to access CFTC-regulated derivatives, reducing the friction of converting assets between different classes.

The addition of RLUSD and XRP follows Bitnomial's recent innovations in the U.S. crypto derivatives market, including the first regulated perpetual futures and the acceptance of Bitcoin and Ether as margin collateral. By integrating RLUSD—a USD-backed stablecoin—as margin collateral, Bitnomial aims to capitalize on the growing institutional adoption of stablecoins, which are shifting from speculative use cases to real-world applications. Jack McDonald, SVP of Stablecoins at Ripple, emphasized that RLUSD's inclusion underscores its role as a "trusted tier-1 USD-backed stablecoin," positioning Bitnomial as a leader in capital-efficient market infrastructure.

The move aligns with broader industry trends, including Ripple's aggressive expansion into institutional services. Earlier this year, Ripple acquired GTreasury, a fintech firm specializing in treasury management systems, for $1 billion. It also made another key acquisition. The company also launched Ripple Prime, a digital asset spot prime brokerage for U.S. institutions, enabling over-the-counter (OTC) trading of XRP and RLUSD. These initiatives reflect Ripple's strategy to bridge traditional finance and crypto, offering institutional clients tools to manage crypto risk akin to traditional portfolios.

XRP's role in this ecosystem remains central. While the token has seen mixed price performance, with a 15% weekly decline at press time, institutional interest in XRP treasuries has surged. Companies like Evernorth, formed via a $1 billion merger with Armada Acquisition Corp II, have built public XRP treasuries, signaling growing corporate demand. Ripple's CTO, David Schwartz, is set to discuss XRP's future and the rise of digital asset treasuries (DATs) at the Swell 2025 event, alongside Evernorth's CEO.

However, critics question whether Ripple's institutional growth translates to XRP's on-chain utility. Despite acquisitions like Hidden Road and GTreasury, XRP's practical role within Ripple's expanding financial services portfolio has narrowed. Analysts note that the token increasingly functions as a funding mechanism for Ripple's fintech ambitions rather than a transactional asset.

The integration of XRP and RLUSD as margin collateral could bolster liquidity and attract institutional traders, particularly as the stablecoin's market capitalization surpassed $1 billion. Bitnomial's expanded offerings position it to compete with other institutional platforms like Coinbase Prime and Anchorage. For traders, the move represents a shift toward a more integrated financial stack, where crypto derivatives operate with the depth and efficiency of traditional markets.