Nasdaq Lists First U.S.-Based XRP Futures ETF, Expanding Institutional Access

The Volatility Shares XRP ETF (ticker: XRPI) has officially launched on Nasdaq

Nasdaq has begun listing the first U.S.-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs) focused on XRP futures, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of cryptocurrency investment products.

The new ETFs, launched by Volatility Shares, are named 'The Volatility Shares XRP ETF' (ticker: XRPI) and will be tracking a basket of XRP futures contracts and other XRP-linked financial instruments. The funds are designed to provide investors with an institution-grade and transparent way to gain exposure to XRP price movements without needing to directly hold the cryptocurrency itself.

XRPI is being launched with a gross expense ratio of 1.15%, which is reduced by applicable fee waivers to 0.94% per year. More than 80% of the ETF's assets will be invested in XRP futures contracts and related financial products, while the remaining portion might be allocated to U.S. Treasury bills or yield-bearing cash to minimize risk and generate returns.

This launch follows the recent news of Teucrium's XXRP ETF, another ETF linked to XRP that has been trading for some time and recently crossed $121 million in assets under management (AUM). This milestone highlights the strong interest from investors in products focused on XRP, especially as institutions seek new avenues for investing in the cryptocurrency markets.

"The introduction of the first U.S.-listed ETF to provide exposure to XRP futures is a testament to the rapidly evolving financial landscape and the increasing demand for innovative investment solutions," said Matthew Cancel, Chief Strategy Officer at Volatility Shares. "We are proud to be at the forefront of this evolution, offering investors a unique and valuable tool for engaging with the cryptocurrency market in a familiar and accessible format."

In addition to the standard XRPI ETF, Volatility Shares also plans to introduce a 2x leveraged version of the XRP futures ETF in the near future. The leveraged ETFs are designed to magnify the daily return of the underlying index, aiming at traders who prefer higher risk and potentially higher returns within shorter time periods.

The forthcoming leveraged XRP ETF will provide investors with even more sophisticated trading options and allow them to capitalize on XRP price volatility using regulated, transparent tools.

The emergence of leveraged crypto ETFs follows the earlier introduction of similar products for Bitcoin and Ethereum futures by institutions like Invesco and ProShares. These developments are part of a broader industry trend, as futures ETFs can provide institutional investors with a way to gain exposure to cryptocurrency price movements without needing to hold any digital assets in their portfolios.

This can be especially important for large institutions that are bound by strict compliance and custody regulations, which might prevent them from directly investing in or holding cryptocurrencies. Industry analysts anticipate that the availability of XRP futures ETFs, including leveraged options, will enhance overall market liquidity and improve price discovery for XRP.

By offering a regulated and transparent platform for futures trading, these ETFs can support a more efficient market, encouraging further institutional participation and fostering mainstream acceptance of cryptocurrencies as an asset class.