XRP News Today: XRP Whale Wallets Surge 10% Amid ETF Optimism

Leading market insights provider Santiment reported that the number of whale and shark wallets holding at least 1 million XRP has surpassed 2,700 for the first time in the asset's 12-year history. This surge in whale activity is attributed to several factors, including institutional integrations, growing usage of the XRP Ledger, regulatory optimism, and technical positioning. The anticipation of a spot XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) receiving regulatory approval has also fueled this accumulation.

According to Polymarket data, the likelihood of a spot XRP ETF being launched before the end of 2025 has increased to 90%. This optimism is further bolstered by potential regulatory clarity in the U.S., such as developments in Ripple's lawsuit against the SEC. Additionally, Dubai’s financial watchdog recently permitted XRP’s operations within the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC), adding to the positive sentiment.

Santiment data indicates that the XRP Ledger (XRPL) is experiencing significant growth due to its low fees. The XRPL has the potential to become a cornerstone for tokenized real-world assets (RWA), offering users a cost-effective and efficient solution for buying, selling, storing, and transferring these assets without relying on traditional fiat currencies. These developments have enhanced XRP whale activity, with the number of active addresses reaching 1.12 million in the past week.

Purpose Investments has launched Canada’s first spot XRP ETF, providing investors with direct exposure to the world’s fourth-largest cryptocurrency through traditional brokerage accounts. Vlad Tasevski, the chief innovation officer at Purpose Investments, expressed pride in offering investors simple and secure access to the infrastructure powering real-world blockchain adoption.

The cryptocurrency community is eagerly awaiting the potential approval of a spot XRP ETF in the U.S., which could mark a major turning point for the digital asset and the broader crypto market. Unlike futures-based ETFs, a spot ETF directly tracks the price of XRP, offering investors a simpler and more transparent way to gain exposure to the asset. This development is particularly significant given the regulatory clarity that followed Ripple’s partial legal victory against the SEC in 2023, which ruled that XRP is not a security when traded on secondary markets.

This legal precedent sets XRP apart from many other altcoins still entangled in regulatory uncertainty, making it a more attractive candidate for ETF consideration. XRP boasts one of the most active and scalable blockchains in the crypto ecosystem, with lightning-fast settlement times and low transaction fees. Institutional players have increasingly shown interest in XRP for cross-border payments, and the addition of a spot ETF could act as a catalyst for mainstream adoption. It would allow asset managers, retirement funds, and everyday investors to gain regulated exposure through traditional brokerage accounts, greatly expanding XRP’s market reach.

Furthermore, the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in early 2024 and growing interest in Ethereum ETFs have set a precedent that adds momentum to the potential launch of a spot XRP ETF. The launch of a spot XRP ETF could inject fresh capital into the ecosystem, increase price stability through higher liquidity, and reinforce investor confidence at a time when the crypto market is maturing. The community’s sentiment is electric, with XRP holders considering their token undervalued relative to its utility and global partnerships. A spot ETF would not only validate the asset’s legitimacy but also unlock a new era of growth and visibility for Ripple’s technology and ecosystem.

The wait for a spot XRP ETF in the U.S. reflects more than just market speculation; it signals a broader desire for legitimacy, accessibility, and institutional-grade crypto exposure. With XRP’s whale count reaching new heights, the rollout of an XRP ETF on American soil could ignite the altcoin’s potential for scaling to new heights.