XRP News Today: Regulators Open Door, But XRP Still Stuck at the Threshold

XRP’s price recovery has faced delays despite the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reclassifying the token as a digital commodity in August 2025, which was seen as a major regulatory milestone. This shift, which resolved a protracted legal dispute with Ripple, led to a surge in institutional interest, evidenced by a 176% increase in XRP’s trading volume to $12.4 billion. Futures contracts for XRP also surpassed $1 billion, indicating heightened speculative activity. The reclassification has enabled businesses to explore XRP for cross-border payments and payroll solutions, particularly among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) seeking cost-efficient and faster alternatives to traditional financial systems [1].

Despite the regulatory clarity, institutional adoption has been mixed. While the reclassification removed one of the major hurdles, BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, opted not to pursue a U.S. spot XRP ETF in 2025, prioritizing its Bitcoin and Ethereum products instead. This decision highlights limited institutional demand for altcoins, as BlackRock cited cautious market conditions and the dominance of major cryptocurrencies. However, critics argue that such hesitancy could lead to lost opportunities as alternative investment avenues gain traction [2].

Market performance reflects the mixed sentiment. In late August 2025, XRP failed to sustain a breakout above $3.00, facing resistance at the 50-period Exponential Moving Average (EMA) on the 4-hour chart. Open Interest (OI) for XRP futures stabilized at approximately $7.75 billion, suggesting that traders remain cautiously optimistic about short-term price recovery. Meanwhile, Bitcoin and Ethereum also experienced consolidation, with Bitcoin hovering around $111,000 and Ethereum stabilizing above $4,300. The broader cryptocurrency market, however, has seen a cooling of institutional demand, as U.S. Ethereum ETFs continued to see outflows for two consecutive days [3].

Regulatory developments have played a central role in shaping XRP’s trajectory. The resolution of the SEC’s case against Ripple established a key legal precedent, distinguishing between public trading of XRP and institutional sales. This clarity has allowed for the approval of the ProShares Ultra XRP ETF in July 2025, the first U.S.-listed ETF for the token. However, global divergence in regulatory approaches has complicated adoption. While Canada launched three XRP spot ETFs in June 2025, the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) and China’s crypto bans have created compliance and adoption barriers. These differences have led to a paradox: U.S. and Canadian investors are gaining exposure to XRP with greater ease, while institutional actors in the EU and China face regulatory uncertainty [4].

Looking ahead, the potential for XRP ETF inflows is being closely monitored. Analyst Zach Rector has predicted that XRP could see $10–20 billion in ETF inflows in 2026 if it follows the same trajectory as Bitcoin and Ethereum, with a potential price target of $20–$30. However, the token’s performance remains tied to its utility. Unlike Bitcoin, XRP’s value is largely derived from its use in Ripple’s cross-border payment network. Despite RippleNet’s 64 active licenses across 90 markets and support for over 55 currencies, the network has a much smaller adoption base compared to SWIFT, which is used by over 11,000 financial institutions [5].

The collaboration between Ripple and Thunes, a global payments platform, aims to enhance cross-border transaction capabilities, supporting real-time payments in local currencies. This partnership could expand Ripple’s global footprint and potentially drive more demand for XRP as an intermediary asset. However, the token still faces competition from platforms like Solana and Stellar, which offer comparable transaction speeds and lower fees. With XRP’s legal uncertainties now resolved, the focus has shifted to its real-world utility and adoption [6].

Source:

[1] XRP Reclassified: What Does it Mean for Crypto Payroll ... (https://www.onesafe.io/blog/xrp-reclassification-institutional-investment-crypto-payroll)

[2] BlackRock suspends XRP listing, price faces resistance ... (https://bitcoinist.com/blackrock-suspends-xrp-listing-price-faces-resistance-earns-5800-a-day-through-ripple/)

[3] Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP struggle amid cooling sentiment (https://www.fxstreet.com/cryptocurrencies/news/crypto-today-bitcoin-ethereum-xrp-extend-consolidation-as-sentiment-institutional-demand-cools-202509031200)

[4] How Regulatory Divergence Shapes XRP's Price and ... (https://www.bitget.com/news/detail/12560604949082)

[5] Investors Bought the XRP Hype -- Is It Now Time to Sell ... (https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/investors-bought-xrp-hype-it-now-time-sell-news)

[6] Ripple Price Forecast: XRP bulls tighten grip on easing US ... (https://www.mitrade.com/insights/news/live-news/article-3-1093050-20250904)