Bitwise CEO: XRP ETFs May Unlock $100T in Traditional Finance—Ripple’s Next Big Move?
Wall Street's sleeping giant just got a wake-up call. Bitwise's CEO dropped a bombshell: XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) could pry open the $100 trillion vault of traditional finance.
Why this changes everything:
- Crypto's institutional on-ramp just got wider. Suddenly, pension funds and hedge managers can tap XRP without touching a wallet.
- The SEC's favorite punching bag might become its biggest headache. Nothing terrifies regulators like Main Street money flooding into 'unregistered securities'.
Of course, the usual suspects will cry foul—bankers clutching pearls over 'speculative vehicles' while quietly front-running the trade. The real question? Whether Ripple's legal wins finally outweigh its baggage when ETF issuers come knocking.
One thing's certain: in finance, hypocrisy cuts deeper than any blockchain.
Bitwise Asset Management CEO Hunter Horsley predicts an XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) would be a big success if approved, given the strong global interest in the token. Horsley said there is “a ton of energy and enthusiasm” around XRP that sets it apart from many other crypto assets.
In an interview with CoinDesk, Horsley explained that in traditional finance, “the death of an ETF is apathy,” but that is far from the case with XRP. He noted that XRP has one of the most passionate and active communities in crypto, which WOULD likely translate into strong demand for an ETF.
Traditional Capital Could Flow Into XRP
According to Horsley, the appeal of an XRP ETF goes beyond retail investors. He pointed out that over $100 trillion in assets currently sit within traditional financial systems, and an ETF often acts as the bridge that allows such capital to gain exposure to new digital assets.
“I think if they have the opportunity to have exposure to and trade XRP, it’ll be a very useful and high-demand product,” he said.
Volatility to Persist in the Near Term
When asked about the volatility in crypto markets, Horsley said that Bitcoin is gradually maturing as more investors agree on how to value it. This growing consensus, he explained, helps narrow its price fluctuations over time.
However, for other large-cap assets such as XRP, Ethereum, and Solana, he expects volatility to persist for the next 12 to 18 months.
Investors Still Forming Consensus on Major Altcoins
Horsley attributed this ongoing volatility to the evolving understanding of these assets among investors. “Investors are busy, they’re thinking about AI, macroeconomics, government policy, or taking family vacations,” he said.
“So I think that there’s more thought development that will need to take place with Solana, XRP, and ethereum before consensus emerges on those assets. So I think they’ll continue to be volatile for some time to come,” he said
He concluded that while volatility will remain part of the market for now, growing institutional access through products like ETFs could help shape clearer valuations and eventually lead to more stable trading conditions.
