XRP Futures ETF Beats Ethereum on Launch Day

XPR Futures made a strong entry on Monday, posting $5.8 million in trading volume on its debut day. The CME XRP Futures ETF surpassed the Ethereum Futures ETF

CME Group launched the XRP futures exchange-traded fund (ETF) on Monday, and it immediately outperformed ether (ETH) futures in terms of volume.

Despite ongoing legal scrutiny of the cryptocurrency, the performance of the new product signals growing interest in regulated XRP futures among professional traders.

Several issuers launched ether futures ETFs, but none of them managed to cross the $2 million mark in volume on Monday. In comparison, the XRP futures ETF nearly reached $6 million in trading activity.

The performance underlines the growing appetite for institutional products linked to XRP, particularly within regulated platforms.

Micro Contract Volume Outpaces Standard

The vast majority of the futures ETF volume came from micro contracts, which are smaller in size and designed for retail traders. In total, micro contracts accounted for more than $1 million in trading activity.

Standard contracts, which cover 50,000 XRP and are typically used by institutional traders, contributed around $480,000 in notional value.

The figures from CME Group confirmed 106 micro contracts, each covering 2,500 XRP, were traded on Monday, adding up to more than $1 million in volume. In comparison, standard contracts contributed around $480,000 to the total notional value.

The successful launch comes despite XRP remaining under pressure due to ongoing regulatory actions by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. However, the volume figures show that despite the legal challenges, professional traders are continuing to engage with the product.

A closely followed crypto trader, Ben Gesell, highlighted the impressive performance of the XRP futures ETF on its debut day.

The XRP futures ETF saw substantial activity, not seen during ether’s futures ETF launch earlier this year.

This signals strong momentum and confidence in XRP’s longer-term institutional relevance.

Moreover, the level of participation in the futures ETF could have implications for the prospects of a spot ETF being approved any time soon.

Rolling Approvals Could Lead to XRP ETF

Industry figures, such as ETF Store president Nate Geraci, believe that the rapid approval of several ether futures ETFs could carry momentum into an approval for a spot XRP ETF.

"I think they're going to keep rolling through approvals. We saw several ether futures ETFs get approved today, and I think that bodes well for more innovative products to come quickly," Geraci said.

Market prediction platforms also showed a rising probability of a spot ETF being approved.

Polymarket had an 83% approval chance posted for a spot XRP ETF by May 19.

Growing activity in the futures ETF could lay the groundwork for spot market offerings backed by real XRP tokens.

Despite the regulatory challenges that remain, consistent performance in futures markets may influence future approvals.

The participation of major platforms like CME also brings credibility and regulatory alignment to XRP’s investment products.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse also mentioned the ETF launch as a milestone, highlighting the importance of engaging in regulated market participants.

Despite ongoing legal proceedings, institutional traders have shown their confidence in XRP’s prospects through active trading in futures and other derivatives products.

The path toward a spot ETF may depend on sustained demand for XRP-linked products and broader crypto market conditions.