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The introduction of XRP futures is expected to enhance market liquidity and could pave the way for ETF approval, boosting XRP’s long-term prospects.
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With the SEC lawsuit dropped, confidence in XRP’s regulatory status has strengthened, supporting its case as a viable institutional asset.
After CME just validated XRP by launching a new benchmark to track the coin’s price, as reported by Crypto News Flash (CNF), the recent announcement by CME Group to launch XRP futures marks a significant milestone for Ripple and the broader cryptocurrency market.
According to a Reuters update, this move, scheduled for May 19, 2025, underscores the growing institutional interest in XRP and could pave the way for the approval of an XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF). Further, it stated that:
CME’s move highlights a push to offer sophisticated trading tools for altcoins — which typically refer to tokens smaller than Bitcoin and Ether. Initially viewed as speculative assets, these coins are fast becoming a vital component of investors’ portfolios and can be a safe haven at a time when tariff-driven volatility has rattled equities.
CME Group’s Strategic Expansion into XRP
As a leading derivatives marketplace, CME Group has unveiled plans to introduce cash-settled XRP futures contracts, pending regulatory approval.
Responding to the update by CME Group, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse hailed this development as “incredibly important,” emphasizing its potential to enhance XRP’s market maturity and liquidity, as he tweeted on his personal X account.
While overdue in a bunch of ways, this is an incredibly important and exciting step in the continued growth of the XRP market! https://t.co/mnwJXKH5hi
— Brad Garlinghouse (@bgarlinghouse) April 24, 2025
As per CNF’s last reviews on Ripple vs. SEC case, it was concluded with a legal expert predicting a fine reduction from $125M to $10M. The conclusion of Ripple’s legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has removed a significant hurdle for XRP’s regulatory clarity.
The SEC’s decision to drop its lawsuit against Ripple has bolstered confidence in XRP’s compliance status, thereby increasing the likelihood of ETF approval.
Market Implications and Bitcoin and XRP’s Performance
The introduction of CME’s XRP futures is expected to attract more institutional participants, potentially leading to increased trading volumes and price stability.
According to recent reports, while XRP garners attention, Bitcoin (BTC) continues to assert its dominance in the crypto market. Currently priced at $93,510, BTC has experienced a modest increase of 0.92% in the last 24 hours and 10.47% in the past week.
Meanwhile, as of now, XRP is trading at $2.18 USD, reflecting a 0.57% increase over the past day and 6.67% over the past week. See XRP price chart below.