XRP ETFs Hit $1.1B AUM, But Price Lags
XRP exchange-traded funds have accumulated $1.1 billion in assets under management, but the token's price has not seen a significant breakout. Analysts suggest that net inflows are trailing those of Bitcoin ETFs and that it may require at least $5 billion in new capital to move the price.
Despite the headwinds of a roughly 25% year-to-date price decline for XRP in 2026, institutional interest through exchange-traded products continues to build. Since their launch in November 2025, U.S. spot XRP ETFs have attracted cumulative net inflows of approximately $1.26 billion. This consistent demand is highlighted by periods of consecutive daily inflows, such as a seven-day streak in early March 2026. However, these inflows are dwarfed by those of their Bitcoin counterparts. In a comparable timeframe, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen cumulative net inflows ranging from $55 billion to $62 billion. In early March 2026 alone, Bitcoin ETFs experienced a three-day surge of over $1 billion in net inflows, showcasing a significantly larger appetite from institutional investors. The price of XRP has been trading around $1.37 to $1.40 in early March 2026. This is a significant drop from its 2025 high of $3.65. Analysts suggest that the current level of ETF inflows is not enough to absorb selling pressure and trigger a significant price breakout, with some estimating it could take over $5 billion in new capital. Meanwhile, Ripple's legal clarity in the U.S. has been a significant development. A 2025 court ruling established that XRP is not a security when traded on public exchanges. This has likely contributed to the increased confidence from institutional investors and has been a key factor in the launch of U.S.-based XRP ETFs. Beyond the ETF narrative, the XRP Ledger is seeing growth in the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs). In February 2026, the value of tokenized assets on the ledger saw a significant increase, with nearly $2 billion in diamond tokenization being added. This move into RWAs is seen by some as a crucial step for the long-term utility and adoption of the XRP ecosystem. Several financial institutions are actively using or exploring Ripple's technology for cross-border payments. Partners like SBI Holdings in Japan, Standard Chartered, and PNC Bank are leveraging RippleNet, with some utilizing XRP for On-Demand Liquidity. In early 2026, Ripple also announced a partnership with DXC Technology to integrate its solutions into a core banking platform that supports over 300 million deposit accounts. Ripple President Monica Long has expressed optimism for 2026, stating that "it feels like the floodgates are going to open this year" regarding institutional engagement. This sentiment is based on a perceived shift in the regulatory environment and increased interest from banks in Ripple's payment and stablecoin services. The development of Ripple's own stablecoin, RLUSD, which has a market cap of over $1.3 billion, is another factor to watch. Its integration with major exchanges like Binance and its use in settling fiat card transactions through a partnership with Mastercard and WebBank could further drive activity on the XRP Ledger.
