XRP is gaining renewed momentum in both technical charts and institutional markets.] XRP has formed its first-ever golden cross against Bitcoin on the weekly timeframe, typically seen as a strong long-term bullish signal. Just as the chart pattern emerged, Volatility Shares announced it will launch the first XRP futures ETF under the ticker XRPI on May 22, further solidifying XRP's growing appeal among professional investors. XRP Forms First-Ever Weekly Golden Cross Against Bitcoin, Marking Potential Turning Point in Crypto Market In what could mark a watershed moment for altcoin markets, XRP has just achieved a rare and historic technical milestone: its first-ever golden cross against Bitcoin on the weekly chart. The move, which occurred as XRP’s 50-week moving average crossed above its 200-week moving average, is widely interpreted by analysts as a powerful bullish signal and could foreshadow a long-awaited breakout from a years-long consolidation phase. The technical achievement comes amid strengthening fundamentals for the XRP Ledger and a wave of renewed investor interest driven by regulatory clarity, increasing network activity, and long-term accumulation trends. With this golden cross, XRP may be positioned to outperform Bitcoin for the first sustained period since the onset of its legal troubles with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2020. Golden cross on the XRP/BTC weekly chart (Source: TradingView) A golden cross occurs when a shorter-term moving average—in this case, the 50-week moving average—crosses above a longer-term moving average, typically the 200-week MA. This event is seen by many traders as a long-term bullish reversal indicator, suggesting a shift in momentum that favors upward price action. For XRP, the significance is heightened because the asset has spent nearly four years in a tight range against Bitcoin, mostly due to the chilling effect of regulatory uncertainty stemming from the SEC’s lawsuit against Ripple. The golden cross, appearing on a high timeframe like the weekly chart, signals a potential long-term reversal of that trend. Since late 2020, XRP has struggled to keep pace with Bitcoin’s explosive growth. While other altcoins like Ethereum, Solana, and Avalanche rode the wave of crypto adoption and institutional interest, XRP found itself sidelined due to legal constraints. The SEC’s case alleging Ripple Labs conducted an unregistered securities offering by selling XRP significantly suppressed investor sentiment and exchange listings. However, the tide began to turn in mid-2023 when a US federal court partially ruled in Ripple’s favor, stating that XRP is not a security in itself—a legal nuance that opened the floodgates for renewed market participation. Now, with regulatory clarity, XRP is once again viewed as a viable long-term bet. Network Growth Confirms Strength Behind the Charts This technical breakout isn’t happening in a vacuum. According to Messari’s “State of XRP Ledger Q1 2025” report, XRP is experiencing a surge in fundamental usage that aligns with its bullish chart pattern. The report highlights that XRP’s market capitalization increased by 2% quarter over quarter, while Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Solana (SOL) experienced a combined decline of 22%. On a year-over-year basis, XRP's circulating market capitalization has grown a stunning 252%, rising from $34.6 billion at the end of Q1 2024. Further reinforcing the bullish picture, XRP network activity has soared: Average daily active addresses surged by 142% quarter over quarter to reach 134,600. Total new addresses climbed 12% from the previous quarter, hitting 568,300—a 210% increase from Q1 2024. Daily receiver addresses rose by 168%, indicating strong user inflow and payment utility. Daily sender addresses grew by 14.5%, showing both new participation and ongoing transactional engagement. These metrics point to real usage growth, not just speculative trading, which adds credibility to the idea that XRP's current rally could have longer-lasting momentum. The golden cross also coincides with rising institutional and retail demand for XRP and XRPL-based services. With US-based exchanges re-listing the token and developers increasingly turning to the XRP Ledger for decentralized finance (DeFi) and real-world asset tokenization solutions, interest in the ecosystem is ramping up. Blockchain intelligence firm Kaiko recently noted a “resurgence in XRP liquidity across major centralized exchanges,” particularly against BTC and stablecoins, which further validates the potential for increased trading volume and capital rotation. Additionally, tokenization efforts on XRPL, combined with Ripple’s ongoing global partnerships in cross-border settlements and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), are attracting long-term believers who see XRP as more than just a trading vehicle. Short-Term Outlook The market has already begun to price in XRP’s technical breakout against BTC, with some traders rotating from Bitcoin and Ethereum into XRP in anticipation of higher beta moves. The XRP/BTC pair is currently testing key horizontal resistance levels not seen since mid-2021. A successful breakout from this consolidation range could see XRP rapidly climb to higher satoshi values, with chart watchers eyeing the 0.00003000 and 0.00004500 BTC levels as possible upside targets. Analysts caution, however, that golden crosses do not guarantee sustained bull runs. Volatility Shares to Launch First-Ever XRP Futures ETF, Fueling Hopes for Spot XRP ETF Approval Meanwhile, Volatility Shares is set to launch the world’s first-ever 1x XRP Futures ETF on May 22, ushering in a new chapter in the institutional adoption of Ripple’s native token. The announcement, confirmed by Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas on X, has sent waves through the market as anticipation builds around XRP’s growing legitimacy in the eyes of regulators and traditional finance players. Trading under the ticker XRPI, the ETF will be part of the Volatility Shares Trust and represents the first XRP-linked futures exchange-traded fund to offer 1x exposure, a more conservative investment product compared to existing leveraged alternatives. The move positions XRP as the third major cryptocurrency, after Bitcoin and Ethereum, to receive such ETF treatment, reinforcing its standing as one of the most watched digital assets in the institutional space. XRP’s Institutional Milestone Volatility Shares’ decision to roll out the 1x XRP Futures ETF comes just 48 hours after the CME Group debuted XRP futures trading, a long-anticipated listing that finally opened the door for regulated futures exposure to XRP. That listing has proven to be a catalyst, rapidly expanding interest from hedge funds, market makers, and asset managers who previously lacked access to compliant XRP derivatives. Now, with an ETF product wrapping those futures contracts in a more accessible structure, institutional demand is expected to surge. The move by Volatility Shares also sets the stage for potential competition with Tectrium’s 2x Long Daily XRP ETF, which was launched just a few weeks earlier. While Tectrium’s product offers double the daily gains of XRP, it carries higher risk due to its leveraged structure. Despite the volatility, Tectrium’s ETF already commands $120 million in AUM and sees $35 million in daily trading volume, making it a significant player in the crypto ETF space. However, many analysts argue that a non-leveraged product like XRPI will attract a wider class of investors, particularly conservative institutions and retirement-focused funds that are often barred from investing in leveraged ETFs. The timing of Volatility Shares’ ETF could not be more strategic. XRP futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) are already drawing attention, as the listing provides legally compliant access for US-based institutions. The trading pairs offer monthly and quarterly contracts, settled in cash, and are already showing signs of robust liquidity. By providing 1x exposure through an ETF, Volatility Shares bridges the gap between complex derivatives markets and traditional ETF rails, allowing investors to trade XRP indirectly via any brokerage account that supports ETFs. This structure mimics the success of BITO (ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF) and BTF (Valkyrie Bitcoin Strategy ETF), which are based on CME Bitcoin futures. Spot XRP ETF on the Horizon? With the launch of XRPI imminent, speculation has reached fever pitch regarding the fate of a spot XRP ETF. While the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has yet to publicly comment on such an application, insiders suggest that the groundwork is being laid. Ripple’s partial legal victory against the SEC in 2023 provided regulatory clarity around the non-security status of XRP in secondary markets, and the successful launch of CME XRP futures appears to have removed one of the biggest hurdles for spot ETF approval—regulated market surveillance. Industry observers are drawing parallels to the Bitcoin spot ETF approval process, which also began with the launch of CME futures followed by years of market maturation.
