XRP News Today: XRP Bridges Traditional Finance and Blockchain as MUTM Rises in DeFi Race

Ripple's XRP is solidifying its position as a maturing institutional asset, despite ongoing regulatory hurdles in the U.S. The first XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF), launched by REX-Osprey in September, has surpassed $100 million in assets under management (AUM), as reported by Yahoo Finance. This growth occurs as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) remains silent on pending XRP ETF applications, with several filings missing review deadlines due to the federal government shutdown, according to a Coinpedia exclusive. Meanwhile, CME Group's recent introduction of XRP options—following strong adoption of its XRP futures—has further expanded institutional exposure, with over $26.9 billion in notional volume traded.

The token's institutional appeal extends beyond derivatives. Prominent investors and firms, including Evernorth (branded as the "MicroStrategy of XRP") and crypto trader James Wynn, have committed to significant XRP allocations, a trend highlighted by Yahoo Finance. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has also accelerated the company's acquisition strategy, targeting firms like GTreasury and Standard Custody to enhance cross-border settlement capabilities. These moves underscore XRP's evolving role as a bridge between traditional finance and blockchain-driven liquidity networks.

Despite regulatory delays, XRP's price has surged to $2.68, a 26% year-to-date gain, as noted by TradingView. Analysts point to growing ETF inflows and corporate treasuries as key drivers. Teucrium's 2x Long Daily XRP ETF, for instance, has amassed $366 million in net assets since April, according to CoinDesk. While at least 10 companies, including VivoPower and Webus, have accumulated XRP on their balance sheets, other coverage has also noted additional missed regulatory deadlines for Ripple's ETF filings, per Coinpedia.

Predictions for XRP's future are bold. China's DeepSeek AI forecasts a potential rise to $10 by year-end, as reported by DeepSeek AI, while investor Jake Claver predicts a $100 price tag by late 2025, citing anticipated ETF approvals and institutional demand; that outlook has been discussed in Coinpedia. Claver argues that a $550 billion liquidity influx could trigger a 45x price surge, mirroring Bitcoin's early bull runs. However, skeptics question the feasibility of such a target, given XRP's current $180 billion market cap.

Meanwhile, Ethereum-based DeFi project Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is emerging as a contender in the crypto space. Its presale is nearing completion, with Phase 6 already 75% sold out at $0.035 per token; the presale progress and fundraising totals are detailed in a GlobeNewswire release. The project has raised over $17.8 million from 17,400 investors, with the next phase set to increase the price by 20% to $0.04. MUTM's structured, phase-based model—combined with its upcoming V1 lending protocol launch on the Sepolia testnet—has drawn comparisons to Cardano's (ADA) 2017 breakout, as covered by Cryptopolitan. Analysts highlight MUTM's transparent tokenomics and real-world use cases, including Peer-to-Contract liquidity pools and a P2P marketplace, with additional presale phase reporting available from AMBCrypto.

The convergence of XRP's institutional adoption and MUTM's rapid presale progress reflects broader market dynamics. As XRP navigates regulatory challenges, its integration into global payments and liquidity systems positions it as a critical asset for traditional finance. In parallel, MUTM's DeFi-driven approach is capturing retail and institutional attention, with its testnet launch and potential exchange listings poised to amplify momentum.