XRP news today: SEC Approves First XRP Futures ETF, Ripple Moves to Trading Floors

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the first-ever XRP futures ETF, launched by ProShares. This ETF is expected to go live on April 30th, 2025. While it’s not a spot ETF — which tracks the actual price of XRP — it’s still a huge step forward for XRP’s recognition on Wall Street. The ETF approval comes just a few years after Ripple, the company behind XRP, was locked in a long legal battle with the SEC. Now, XRP is moving from courtrooms to trading floors, joining the ranks of Bitcoin and Ethereum, which already have both futures and spot ETFs.

Some investors were unsure at first, asking, “Why futures and not spot?” But futures ETFs are often the first step. This was the path for Bitcoin and Ethereum, and experts believe a spot XRP ETF could be next. Futures trading allows big institutional investors to take positions on XRP, whether the market goes up or down — a common and healthy part of mature financial markets. Experts called the approval a game-changer, pointing out that this move gives major players a way to legally and securely trade XRP. And the good news doesn’t stop there. In Brazil, the XRP H11 ETF has just launched on the country’s main stock exchange, making it the first XRP-focused ETF in the world. This global momentum suggests XRP is no longer being left behind.

Just a few years ago, XRP was under heavy legal scrutiny. Now, it’s being listed on international exchanges, with regulated investment products opening the door for more adoption. From being targeted by regulators to becoming a favorite of institutional investors — XRP is clearly turning the page. The approval of these ETFs comes as a result of the SEC's review process, during which the commission did not object to the proposals. This decision follows the launch of the first XRP ETF in the U.S. by Teucrium Investment Advisors LLC, which also offers leveraged exposure to XRP without holding the token. The approval of ProShares' ETFs is seen as a step forward for the cryptocurrency market, as it provides investors with more options to gain exposure to XRP.

However, it is important to note that these ETFs are not spot ETFs, which would require buying XRP tokens. Instead, they are futures ETFs, which allow investors to place bets on XRP's price without holding the token itself. This distinction is significant, as spot ETFs have been a contentious issue in the cryptocurrency market, with many investors and analysts calling for their approval. The approval of these ETFs is also seen as a positive development for Ripple, the company behind XRP. Ripple has been actively lobbying for regulatory frameworks that favor blockchain development, and the approval of these ETFs is seen as a step in the right direction. However, Ripple's aggressive push for XRP adoption has not always been well-received by the wider crypto community, with some critics arguing that the company's tactics are antagonistic and divisive.

In addition to the approval of these ETFs, the largest derivatives exchange in the U.S. has announced plans to add XRP futures to its offerings. This move is seen as a further indication of the growing acceptance of XRP in the mainstream financial market. The exchange will introduce two types of XRP futures contracts: a micro-sized contract tied to 2,500 XRP, and a larger one tied to 50,000 XRP. Both contracts will be settled in cash and calculated using the CF XRP-Dollar Reference Rate. The approval of these ETFs and the addition of XRP futures to the exchange's offerings are seen as positive developments for the cryptocurrency market, as they provide investors with more options to gain exposure to XRP. However, it is important to note that these developments do not address the underlying issues surrounding spot ETFs, which remain a contentious issue in the market. As such, investors and analysts will continue to monitor the situation closely, as the approval of spot ETFs could have significant implications for the cryptocurrency market.