XRP News Today: XRP ETFs Approved—But Price Surge Already Priced In?

The cryptocurrency market is closely monitoring XRP as significant whale activity and pending ETF approvals could drive a potential price surge. According to Santiment data, XRP whales—wallets holding 1 to 10 million tokens—have accumulated 1.43 billion XRP since November 2024, a 37.4% increase valued at $3.8 billiontitle3^[3]. This accumulation coincides with growing speculation around a potential U.S. spot XRP ETF, which could unlock institutional demand and further tighten already limited exchange liquidity. Sell-side availability of XRP has dropped from 40 million to 18 million tokens, exacerbating supply constraints and fueling investor FOMOtitle3^[3].

The first U.S. spot XRP ETF, the REX-Osprey XRP ETF (XRPR), launched on September 18, trading $37.7 million on its debut—the highest first-day volume for 2025. However, XRP’s price dipped post-launch, suggesting market expectations for ETF approvals may have already been partially priced intitle1^[1]. Analysts argue that institutional demand for XRP ETFs could trigger a "supply shock," as funds must purchase the token directly from the market. With retail investors holding XRP long-term, institutions may need to pay higher prices to incentivize sales. Jake Claver, a crypto analyst, estimates $5 to $8 billion in inflows could occur within the first month of ETF approval, surpassing Bitcoin’s initial ETF inflowstitle2^[2].

Reduced liquidity and whale behavior are amplifying XRP’s volatility. Coinbase’s XRP inventory has fallen nearly 90% in recent months, now sitting at around 100 million tokenstitle2^[2]. This scarcity, combined with whale accumulation, has pushed XRP’s price to $2.83—a seven-year high—as of late 2024title3^[3]. Technical indicators also suggest momentum, with the token approaching a key resistance zone between $2.40 and $2.50. A "god candle" pattern on XRP’s chart, identified by analysts, further signals potential for a sharp breakouttitle4^[4].

Regulatory developments remain pivotal. Ripple’s legal battle with the SEC, which ended in a 2023 court victory, has not fully resolved uncertainties. However, a pro-crypto political shift in the U.S. and ongoing institutional partnerships—such as Ripple’s collaboration with BNY Mellon to safeguard RLUSD stablecoin reserves—signal broader adoptiontitle4^[4]. CEO Brad Garlinghouse has highlighted XRP’s potential to capture 14% of cross-border payment volumes from legacy systems like SWIFT, though competition from blockchain solutions like Chainlink’s integration with SWIFT could temper this ambitiontitle1^[1].

While ETF approval is a key catalyst, analysts caution that XRP’s long-term success hinges on utility and adoption. Ripple’s expansion into stablecoin projects, real-world asset tokenization, and CBDC pilots in countries like Brazil and Palau are cited as complementary driverstitle2^[2]. However, the token’s $175 billion market cap—comparable to traditional financial firms like Charles Schwab—underscores the need for sustained institutional confidence and regulatory claritytitle1^[1].

XRP’s trajectory remains intertwined with broader crypto market dynamics. The CoinDesk 20 Index, a broad-based crypto benchmark, has seen mixed performance, with XRP’s inclusion reflecting its growing institutional relevance. While the token has outperformed some peers in recent months, its price action will depend on whether ETF inflows materialize and how regulatory outcomes shape market sentiment.