XRP News Today: XRP Gains Momentum as Ripple SEC Lawsuit Nears End—Is a U.S. XRP ETF Closer Than Ever?

The XRP lawsuit, long viewed as a cloud over Ripple’s ambitions, appears to be nearing its conclusion, opening the door for expansion, innovation, and potentially even an XRP spot ETF in the United States.

According to pro-XRP attorney John E. Deaton, Ripple’s recent $1.25 billion acquisition of Hidden Road, a leading institutional brokerage, reflects a calculated pivot toward integrating traditional finance (TradFi) with decentralized finance (DeFi).

Ripple’s $1.25B acquisition of Hidden Road marks a landmark fusion of TradFi and DeFi, positioning Ripple as a one-stop blockchain powerhouse for institutional finance. Source: John E Deaton via X

Hidden Road, which processes more than $3 trillion annually for over 300 institutional clients, will now utilize the XRP Ledger (XRPL) for post-trade settlements. The result? A dramatic reduction in settlement times—from 24 hours to just 3–5 seconds.

“This may be the best example of TradFi and DeFi convergence in crypto,” Deaton noted on X, highlighting Ripple’s re-entry into aggressive expansion following years of regulatory headwinds.

Ripple’s roadmap isn’t limited to payment settlements. The company is also investing heavily in custody solutions, a move viewed as foundational for the future of digital finance. Ripple’s earlier acquisitions of Metaco and Standard Custody now power its new service, Ripple Custody, which offers secure digital asset storage for institutional clients.

Ripple is expanding XRPL beyond payments by adding real-world asset custody and tokenization infrastructure. Source: JDNomax via X

“There’s a very specific reason Ripple now offers custody,” said Deaton. “By combining custody, payments, and stablecoin solutions, Ripple becomes a one-stop blockchain provider for banks and financial firms.”

These services are intended to position Ripple as a leader in tokenization-as-a-service, where financial institutions can tokenize assets like stocks, bonds, or real estate on the XRPL. The RLUSD stablecoin will act as the primary collateral in this system, cementing the ledger’s role in modernizing asset markets.

Ripple’s approach aligns with projections from Boston Consulting Group, which estimates the digital asset custody market could surpass $16 trillion by 2030. In this context, Ripple is not just recovering—it’s attempting to redefine digital finance.

While Brazil recently launched its first XRP spot ETF, U.S. investors continue to wait. The SEC has approved several XRP futures ETFs through ProShares, including UltraShort and leveraged versions, signaling growing institutional demand—but a spot ETF remains elusive.

The approval of futures products is a significant development, but it doesn’t quite satisfy the market’s hunger. “The spot ETF is where the real demand lies,” said analysts from Bitrue. “It opens the gates to direct exposure and increased liquidity.”

Meanwhile, companies like Bitwise, WisdomTree, and 21Shares are reportedly lining up filings for U.S.-based XRP spot ETFs, while the CME Group plans to list XRP futures in May. This adds credibility to XRP as a maturing institutional asset and underscores growing optimism around XRP value recovery.

With Ripple’s legal issues winding down and market sentiment turning bullish, analysts are revisiting long-term XRP price predictions. Currently trading around $2.27, XRP has already surged more than 480% over the past month, driven by ETF news and growing institutional participation.

XRP is showing a strong bullish continuation with a key 3-bar pattern and major weekly checkback, but losing the current low would be a serious warning sign. Source: TradingNomadic on TradingView

Technical charts reveal strong resistance near $2.50, with the next hurdle at $2.72. If XRP can sustain a breakout above these levels, many traders believe a near-term climb toward $3 is plausible.

Looking further ahead, analysts like Ryan Lee from Bitget predict XRP could reach $10 by 2030, thanks to ETF momentum, stablecoin adoption, and XRPL’s increasing utility in DeFi and tokenization.

Despite swirling speculation, Ripple has no immediate plans for a public offering. In a recent CNBC interview, Ripple President Monica Long confirmed that the firm is prioritizing acquisitions and development over an IPO.

“At this time, we have a lot of liquidity—billions of dollars of cash on the balance sheet,” Long stated. She emphasized that Ripple’s growth strategy will remain privately driven, leveraging its capital to expand through strategic investments rather than going public.

This strategy complements Ripple’s broader effort to reshape the institutional crypto landscape, making it a powerful force in cross-border payments, asset tokenization, and digital custody.

The XRP lawsuit update signals a potential turning point for both Ripple and the broader crypto market. As the SEC-Ripple case nears its resolution, Ripple is advancing on multiple fronts—from expanding its product suite to engaging with global financial infrastructure. While an XRP spot ETF remains out of reach for now, institutional interest and regulatory progress are bringing that goal closer than ever.

XRP was trading at around $2.27 at press time. Source: XRP Liquid Index (XRPLX) via Brave New Coin

For XRP holders and investors, the next few months could be pivotal. If the legal clouds clear and Ripple continues to scale, the token could reclaim and surpass previous highs, solidifying its position as a top-tier digital asset in the evolving financial world.