The crypto space had been in pullback mode following Trump’s January inauguration, but the bulls appear to be wrestling control of the narrative again. While the broader markets have been prone to wild swings on account of Trump’s seesawing tariff policy, Bitcoin (BTC) has looked resilient and has been edging higher over the past month.
That is often accompanied by gains elsewhere in the space. Ripple (XRP), for instance, has also been on the move again, up by 38% from its early April low and currently hitting monthly highs. While some of that lift comes from renewed enthusiasm across crypto, XRP’s rally is also being powered by developments specific to its ecosystem.
Just yesterday, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) gave the green light to three XRP futures ETFs from ProShares, slated to launch on April 30. While these aren’t spot ETFs – meaning they don’t involve the direct purchase of XRP – they still represent a milestone for market access. Futures-based ETFs speculate on XRP’s price through contracts rather than holding the asset itself, but their approval signals growing regulatory acceptance and opens the door to increased institutional involvement.
Paul Howard, Senior Director at leading crypto market maker Wincent, highlights the ETFs’ importance, saying, “The ETF announcements for XRP are widely accepted as a way for Institutional and retail to get exposure… I expect we will see spot demand for XRP once these additional ETFs launch and help to bring more balance to BTC heavy portfolios given the differing use case of the two assets.”
Meanwhile, the resolution of Ripple’s lawsuit with the SEC in March 2025 has removed a major regulatory uncertainty, boosting market sentiment. After years of legal back-and-forth over whether XRP should be classified as a security, the SEC decided to drop its appeal against Ripple. The outcome is widely seen as a significant victory for Ripple and the broader crypto industry, underscoring a shift toward a more favorable regulatory environment under the current administration.
Additionally, Ripple’s strategic initiatives appear to be boosting XRP’s standing in global finance. One strategic move that turned heads recently was the announcement of the $1.25 billion acquisition of prime brokerage firm Hidden Road.
Howard sees the acquisition as a sign that the Ripple ecosystem is going “from strength to strength.” He also believes the spotlight on payments and settlements – XRP’s core focus – is only getting brighter, predicting it will become a “more important use case for cryptocurrencies” as the space matures.
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Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analyst. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.
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