XRP has surged almost 30% this week, reaching $2.41 as bullish sentiment sweeps the market. This price rally follows heightened optimism regarding a possible settlement between Ripple Labs and the U.S. SEC, potentially ending a protracted legal battle and clarifying XRP’s regulatory standing in the U.S. Recent court filings suggest negotiations are advancing, and if resolved, may clear the path for greater institutional participation.
Adding fuel to the bullish momentum, rumors about a potential XRP ETF launch in 2025 have sparked renewed interest among large investors. An ETF could, much like Bitcoin's, drive considerable institutional inflows. On-chain data shows significant whale accumulation: over 370 million XRP worth $782 million moved recently, and whale-held supply has grown from 8.24% to 9.44% in recent months. Santiment data also reports whale accumulation reaching 12.22%, as trading volumes spike amid both legal optimism and macro events like the US-China trade talks in Switzerland. XRP’s market capitalization has neared $128 billion, and options open interest increased by more than 20%, indicating bullish bets by traders.
In addition, Ripple is expanding the XRP ecosystem with news that Ondo Finance will launch a tokenized U.S. Treasury fund on the XRP Ledger, using the RLUSD stablecoin. This move could make institutional adoption easier, increasing XRP's attractiveness for long-term investors. However, Ripple has ceased publishing quarterly market reports, sparking some concerns over transparency.
From a technical perspective, XRP remains in a bullish setup, trading near major resistance, with traders eyeing further gains but mindful of a potential short-term pullback. The overall market environment and strategic whale moves suggest continued positive momentum if current trends and optimism persist.