XRP News Today: XRP ETFs Boost Liquidity, Whale Sales Delay Price Gains Until 2026

XRP's price outlook remains a focal point in the cryptocurrency market as the asset navigates a pivotal period marked by ETF launches, institutional interest, and structural market dynamics. Despite recent volatility, analysts and market participants are cautiously optimistic about long-term gains, though uncertainties linger about how quickly these developments will translate into sustained price momentum.

The launch of multiple XRP ETFs in late November 2025 has injected fresh liquidity into the market. Grayscale's XRP ETF, set to debut on November 24 under the ticker GXRP, follows regulatory approval and a 20-day SEC countdown. Franklin Templeton's XRP ETF is also expected to launch on the same day, marking what many analysts call a historic convergence of institutional-grade crypto products. These ETFs join earlier entrants like Bitwise's XRP ETF and Canary Capital's XRPC, which began trading in late October and early November, respectively. Collectively, these products offer U.S. investors a regulated, exchange-traded pathway to XRP, potentially broadening its appeal and deepening market liquidity.

However, XRP's price has not yet fully capitalized on this institutional influx. As of November 22, the asset traded around $2.12, a decline from its post-ETF approval high of $2.15. According to on-chain analytics, structural challenges persist, including a top-heavy supply distribution: 41.5% of XRP's circulating supply (~26.5 billion tokens) remains in loss. Whale activity has further exacerbated short-term volatility, with reports indicating that large holders sold approximately 200 million XRP in the 48 hours following the first ETF's approval. Analysts suggest this selling pressure could delay meaningful price appreciation until 2026, when institutional flows are expected to stabilize.

The XRP ecosystem is also seeing broader institutional validation. Ripple's recent $500 million strategic investment, led by firms like Fortress Investment Group and Citadel Securities, underscores confidence in the XRP Ledger's (XRPL) potential as an institutional infrastructure tool. Meanwhile, projects like XRP Tundra are accelerating their timelines amid institutional acquisition talks. The platform confirmed a December 15 launch, supported by a tier-1 exchange partnership and expanded infrastructure, while maintaining a retail allocation at $0.01 per token. Such developments highlight XRP's growing role in cross-border payments and tokenization, though they remain secondary to its price performance.

A key question dominating market discussions is whether XRP can realistically challenge Ethereum for the No. 2 cryptocurrency spot. With a current market cap of ~$129 billion, XRP lags behind Ethereum's $373 billion, despite recent ETF-driven inflows. While XRP's institutional use cases - particularly in banking and settlement - are expanding, its lack of a native smart-contract layer limits its ability to replicate Ethereum's developer ecosystem. Analysts argue that overtaking Ethereum is unlikely in the short to medium term but acknowledge that XRP's market cap could rise significantly if ETF adoption accelerates and global tokenization trends gain traction.

Technically, XRP is testing critical support near $2.12, with open interest surging to $6 billion from $1 billion in October. Price projections vary, with some analysts forecasting potential runs to $6–$25 if ETF inflows intensify and liquidity tightens. However, near-term volatility is expected as the market digests overlapping ETF launches and institutional positioning.

In summary, XRP's path to sustained growth hinges on balancing short-term structural fragility with long-term institutional adoption. While the ETF-driven narrative has bolstered optimism, the asset's ability to convert this momentum into lasting price gains will depend on how quickly demand outpaces selling pressure and how effectively XRP's utility aligns with institutional needs.