Ripple has closed a major chapter in its regulatory history, and the crypto market is already anticipating what could be next. With its legal battle against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) now officially resolved, many are looking toward a possible XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) making its debut soon—perhaps as early as July.
On June 29, Ripple confirmed that it had agreed to a $50 million settlement with the SEC, a sharp reduction from the initial $125 million proposal. Both parties have withdrawn their respective appeals, signaling the official end of a long-running case that had significantly clouded XRP’s legal status for over three years.
One of the most impactful outcomes of the settlement is the removal of restrictions on Ripple’s institutional sales of XRP. This decision not only marks a turning point for Ripple’s business operations but also positions XRP as one of the few major cryptocurrencies with full legal clarity in the United States.
The legal victory has reignited speculation that a spot XRP ETF could be on the horizon. With the path now legally unobstructed, crypto analysts, traders, and financial institutions are paying closer attention to XRP’s ETF potential.
AIXBT, a leading AI-powered crypto analytics firm, has forecast that ETF filings for XRP may begin as early as July. According to its model, XRP’s newly clarified regulatory status makes it an ideal candidate for institutional investment products like ETFs.
This view aligns with commentary from several market experts. Nate Geraci, President of the ETF Store, recently stated that Ripple’s win “opens the door” for traditional asset managers to consider adding XRP to their ETF rosters.
Adding fuel to the speculation, BlackRock—the world’s largest asset manager and a known backer of Bitcoin ETFs—is among the names mentioned as a potential XRP ETF sponsor. Others expected to explore filings include Grayscale, Bitwise, VanEck, and Canary Capital.
While XRP’s market is considerably smaller than Bitcoin’s, analysts believe an XRP ETF could still attract sizable inflows. Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart estimated that $85 million in volume during an XRP ETF’s first week would be a strong start, considering XRP’s spot market size is roughly 7.5% that of Bitcoin’s.
By comparison, Bitcoin ETFs saw a massive $14 billion in trading volume and over $1 billion in net inflows within their initial start period. While XRP isn’t expected to reach that scale right away, the market could still view it as a success story if the ETF gains traction quickly.
Following Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse’s public statement—“We’re closing this chapter once and for all”—XRP saw a 5% price surge. This reaction wasn’t just driven by the legal closure, but also by the broader perception that XRP now holds a unique regulatory advantage among major cryptocurrencies.
AIXBT described XRP’s legal standing as the “cleanest” in the market, a phrase that is now being echoed by investors and traders. Many believe this clarity could be the foundation for significant institutional interest and capital inflow, particularly through regulated financial products like ETFs.
Despite the bullish sentiment, analysts are urging caution. AIXBT flagged that traders may be overly confident in long positions, especially with so much hype around a potential ETF. The AI model indicated that short-term corrections could occur if investor enthusiasm runs ahead of actual developments.
XRP has often been subject to speculative trading, and even though regulatory clarity is now in place, price swings remain likely in the near term.
Even with a potential July filing, actual approval from the SEC may take months. For example, Bitcoin spot ETFs had to go through multiple rejection cycles before eventually receiving green lights in early 2024.
The SEC may take a more measured approach with XRP, reviewing proposed ETFs from institutions like BlackRock or Bitwise with strict scrutiny. However, now that XRP is no longer under active litigation, the odds of an eventual approval appear significantly higher.
Should an ETF filing emerge in July, it will likely trigger a wave of speculation and trading activity—not just for XRP, but for the broader altcoin sector. The move would mark a notable expansion of crypto’s footprint in traditional finance.
With the legal battle behind it, Ripple is now better positioned to pursue its broader goals in global payments, liquidity provision, and tokenization. The company also has more than $1 billion in reserves earmarked for strategic growth.
While an acquisition rumor involving Uphold recently stirred social media, Ripple has not confirmed any such deals. Still, the legal clarity may now allow the firm to pursue partnerships and expansion strategies more aggressively.
The Ripple-SEC case is finally closed, and XRP has emerged from it stronger and more clearly defined than ever. While the market waits to see if a spot ETF filing materializes in July, one thing is clear: XRP now has the regulatory foundation it needs to compete with Bitcoin and Ethereum in the institutional investment arena.
Whether or not July brings an ETF filing, the next chapter for XRP looks far more promising than the last. For investors and institutions alike, that alone is worth watching closely.
Julie is a renowned crypto journalist with a passion for uncovering the latest trends in blockchain and cryptocurrency. With over a decade of experience, she has become a trusted voice in the industry, providing insightful analysis and in-depth reporting on groundbreaking developments. Julie's work has been featured in leading publications, solidifying her reputation as a leading expert in the field.
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