XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) delivered their strongest monthly performance of 2026 in May, pulling in $131.94 million in net inflows despite turbulent market conditions. The figure, reported by SosoValue, marks the highest monthly inflow since the products launched in late 2025, substantially exceeding the $81.59 million recorded in April and eclipsing earlier months that had either modest inflows or net outflows.
This influx pushed XRP ETFs’ year-to-date cumulative net inflows past the $1.40 billion milestone. The performance stands in sharp contrast to broader crypto ETF trends: Bitcoin ETFs bled $2.43 billion in net outflows during the same month, while Ethereum funds shed $540.88 million. Institutional investors, it seems, are rotating capital toward XRP as a preferred vehicle during price instability.
Meanwhile, on-chain and sentiment data paint a different picture. Santiment placed XRP’s sentiment ratio near 1.10 to 1.0 on May 25, pushing the asset into a fear-driven “FUD Zone.” Short-term traders faced heavy losses, with 30-day average returns around -47% and the MVRV ratio dropping below December 2020 lows. Yet, despite XRP testing its yearly low near $1.34, institutional demand via ETFs remained robust. On May 29 alone, U.S. spot XRP ETFs absorbed $11.88 million, with Bitwise, Canary, and Franklin products leading. Total inflows between May 20 and May 29 reached $35 million, lifting total net assets to $1.12 billion.
The divergence between retail fear and institutional accumulation suggests a stealthy build-up. Exchange flow data further hinted at this: a spike of 22.80 million XRP moved onto exchanges, followed by 25.24 million XRP moving back off, triggering a roughly 5% price bounce. Analysts interpret such behavior as accumulation during panic phases, with the $1.34 support level holding firm and potential targets of $1.37–$1.40 if current levels are defended.
