XRP’s rapid ascent in the U.S. investment market gained fresh momentum as its spot ETFs crossed a major asset milestone, underscoring soaring demand for regulated crypto access and expanding traditional investor reach, according to Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse.
XRP Spot ETF Surge Reshapes Institutional Crypto Demand
XRP’s growing prominence in the U.S. crypto investment market drew attention when Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse shared on social media platform X on Dec. 8 that the crypto asset’s new spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) had reached a significant milestone.
He said that in less than four weeks, “ XRP is now the fastest crypto spot ETF to reach $1B in AUM (since ETH) in the U.S.” He added broader context to the surge, stating: “With over 40 crypto ETFs launched this year in the U.S. alone, a few points are obvious to me.” Firstly, Garlinghouse explained:
There’s pent up demand for regulated crypto products, and with Vanguard opening up access in traditional retirement / trading accounts for Americans, crypto is now accessible to millions more people who don’t need to be experts in the technology.
The second point he noted concerns evolving priorities among new market participants. “Longevity, stability, and community are all underrated themes that matter to this new set of ‘offchain’ crypto holders,” the Ripple executive detailed.
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The momentum Garlinghouse referenced reflects a changing ETF landscape driven by the launch of pure-play XRP exchange-traded funds. Canary Capital’s XRPC became the first spot XRP ETF in November, followed by Bitwise ( XRP), Franklin Templeton (XRPZ), and the converted Grayscale XRP Trust (GXRP). These funds are fully backed by physical XRP and operate under the Securities Act of 1933. By contrast, the earlier REX-Osprey XRP ETF (XRPR), launched in September under the Investment Company Act of 1940, holds a mixed basket of assets rather than a single underlying token.
Moreover, in a major policy shift, has opened its brokerage platform to trading in select third-party cryptocurrency ETFs, including those tracking XRP. This move reverses the firm’s longstanding resistance, driven by increasing client demand and the maturation of regulated crypto investment vehicles. Vanguard, which oversees over $11 trillion in assets, will not issue its own crypto products, but the decision offers over 50 million clients regulated exposure to the digital asset class. This pivot significantly integrates crypto into traditional finance.
FAQ 🧭
- Why is XRP’s rapid $1B AUM milestone important for investors? Because XRP becoming the fastest U.S. spot crypto ETF (since ETH) to reach $1B in AUM signals accelerating institutional adoption and strong market validation for regulated XRP exposure.
- What does growing demand for regulated crypto products mean for market expansion? It shows that millions of traditional investors—especially those using retirement and brokerage accounts—are now able to access crypto without deep technical knowledge, enlarging ’s potential investor base.
- How do the new spot XRP ETFs strengthen XRP’s investment thesis? Pure-play ETFs from Canary, Bitwise, Franklin Templeton, and Grayscale provide physically backed, SEC-registered exposure, improving liquidity, transparency, and institutional confidence.
- Why is Vanguard’s policy shift significant for XRP investors? Vanguard’s decision to allow trading of third-party crypto ETFs, including XRP-tracking funds, integrates digital assets into mainstream finance and opens access to over 50 million clients, greatly expanding potential inflows.
Author: Kevin Helms
Source: Bitcoin
Reviewed By: Editorial Team