XRP News Today: XRP Slips, But ETF Momentum Builds; BlackRock BTC ETF Flows Shine

XRP Products Expand as SEC Maintains Silence on Ripple Case

Since Paul Atkins assumed the role of SEC Chair, the agency has remained silent on the Ripple case. Markets expect the agency to file a motion requesting Judge Torres to vacate the injunction on XRP sales to institutional investors and reduce the $125 million penalty. A possible withdrawal of the SEC’s appeal and Ripple’s cross-appeal may depend on Judge Torres granting the motion to settle.

While investors await Ripple case-related updates, US XRP-linked products continue to gain traction. On Thursday, April 24, the CME Group announced it would launch XRP futures trading, stating:

“Starting May 19, trade regulated, capital-efficient futures on XRP, available in larger- and micro-sized contracts, so you can scale your exposure with greater precision and flexibility.”

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse welcomed the news, commenting:

“While overdue in a bunch of ways, this is an incredibly important and exciting step in the continued growth of the XRP market!”

Earlier this week, Coinbase (COIN) successfully rolled out XRP futures. Market participants view the increasing availability of such instruments as a critical step toward the eventual approval of an XRP-spot ETF. According to Polymarket, a crypto-betting platform, the odds for an XRP-spot ETF approval by December 2025 rose to 72%, up from 68% on April 22.

XRP Outlook: Legal and ETF Momentum Build

XRP fell 0.62% on Thursday, April 24, reversing Wednesday’s 0.29% gain. The token fell to a session low of $2.1169 before closing at $2.2050. XRP underperformed the broader crypto market, which rose 0.31%, taking the total crypto market cap to $2.9 trillion.

Key price drivers going forward include a potential Ripple-SEC settlement, rising optimism around an XRP-spot ETF, and broader macroeconomic influences such as Federal Reserve policy and U.S.-China trade relations. Near-term support lies around $1.70, while a break above $3.00 could open a path toward the all-time high of $3.5505.

See our full XRP forecast here.

Bitcoin Holds Gains Amid Trade Developments

Despite XRP’s decline, bitcoin (BTC) extended its winning streak to six sessions on April 24. Risk on sentiment boosted BTC demand amid hopes of a US-China trade deal. President Trump stated that negotiations had resumed despite China denying any recent discussions.

The Nasdaq Composite Index rallied 2.74% on April 24, reflecting investor sentiment toward Trump’s willingness to negotiate with China. However, gold climbed 1.84%, while the US Dollar Index fell 0.67% amid mixed signals from the US and China, limiting BTC’s gains.

US BTC-Spot ETF Inflows Accelerate

Hopes for a US-China trade deal have revived demand for US BTC-spot ETFs. On April 23, net inflows totaled $917 million after inflows of $912.7 million on April 22. The BTC-spot ETF market appeared poised to extend its inflow streak to five sessions on April 24. According to Farside Investors:

• ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) saw net inflows of $97 million.
• Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB) had net inflows of $10.2 million.
• Excluding pending flow data for BlackRock’s (BLK) iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), the US BTC-spot ETF market recorded $107.2 million in net inflows on April 24.

Eric Balchunas commented:

“ETFs are on a bitcoin bender, have consumed nearly 25,000 btc in three days, IBIT alone took in $643m yesterday, #1 among all ETFs. What’s really notable here is just HOW FAST the flows can go from 1st gear to 5th gear. Prob some is basis trade back in effect, that’s the fast money that tends to come in and out w price.”

BTC-spot ETF market flow trends remain crucial for BTC’s price trajectory as investors await Bitcoin Act-related developments. Senator Cynthia Lummis reintroduced the Bitcoin Act, proposing the US government acquire one million BTC over five years, with a 20-year mandatory holding period. Legislation enabling the Trump administration to buy and hold BTC could yield record highs.

BTC Price Outlook: Key Catalysts Ahead

On April 24, BTC advanced 0.28%, following Wednesday’s 0.39% gain, closing at $94,010, its highest close since March 2.

Future performance will likely depend on:

• Bearish Scenario: Escalating US-China trade war, Fed hawkishness, weak US data, legislative resistance, and ETF outflows. In this scenario, BTC may drop to $85,000.
• Bullish Scenario: Dovish Fed signals, improving US-China trade ties, upbeat data, pro-crypto legislation, and rising ETF inflows could drive BTC toward $100,000.

What to Watch

Market participants should monitor Ripple case proceedings, updates on U.S.-China trade talks, and central bank commentary. Macroeconomic trends and ETF activity remain key sentiment indicators. While an XRP settlement could spark a renewed rally, broader crypto momentum will hinge on global policy shifts and investor appetite for risk assets.

Read analysts’ insights on what may drive cryptocurrencies to new highs.