BlackRock’s XRP ETF: Is the Crypto Mega-Play Finally Happening in 2025?
Wall Street's sleeping giant just blinked. BlackRock—the $10 trillion asset manager that moves markets with a whisper—may be priming an XRP ETF launch. Here's why it matters.
### The Ripple Effect
An XRP ETF would smash open institutional crypto access like a wrecking ball. Forget greyscale trusts—this is liquid, regulated exposure. But the SEC's lawsuit hangover still lingers like bad cologne.
### The Custody Conundrum
BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF custody playbook won't work here. XRP's hybrid nature—part security, part currency, all legal limbo—demands creative structuring. Expect Swiss vaults and Bermuda loopholes.
### The Cynic's Corner
Let's be real: BlackRock doesn't care about 'decentralization.' They smell fees—0.8% on a $5 billion fund is $40 million annually. The crypto revolution? Just another revenue stream. But hey, at least it beats their fossil fuel ETFs.
BlackRock XRP ETF a Possibility According to Expert
Geraci believes that it’s only logical for BlackRock to file for an XRP ETF. He cited the asset manager’s attempt to position itself as a “thought leader,” and thinks that it wouldn’t make a lot of sense for the financial behemmoth to ignore a top-five non-stablecoin cryptocurrency by means of total market capitalization. He also thinks the firm will file for a spot Solana (SOL) ETF.
He also believes that they will be filing for an index-based crypto ETF:
If launching index-based crypto ETF (which I’m highly confident they will), then you’re launching individual spot ETFs. I get the “BlackRock is all in on ETH,” or “they think XRP is scam.” This is all about business. They open up flank not pursuing additional spot ETFs IMO.
To this, he also added that by failing to add more individual spot ETFs, BlackRrock WOULD essentially send a message to their clients and prospective investors that “there will only ever be two winners in crypto: BTC and ETH.”
He also said that they are still early because one of their main competitors is still following the “blockchain, not bitcoin” meta.
Sticking w/ prediction that BlackRock will launch both xrp & SOL ETFs…
Doesn’t make sense that world’s largest asset manager (& current leader in both spot BTC & eth ETFs) would ignore two top 5 non-stablecoin crypto assets.
I also expect them to launch index-based crypto ETF.
— Nate Geraci (@NateGeraci) August 1, 2025
XRP ETFs The New Meta?
It’s perhaps safe to assume that a major deterrent for large-scale asset managers to file for XRP ETFs was the ambiguity surrounding its legal status amid the case between the US Securities and Exchange Commission and Ripple Labs.
Now that this has almost been resolved, and following the Commission’s newfound crypto-oriented focus, investors and asset managers are far more confident in the US-based crypto company. This has also largely been reflected in XRP’s price, which is up by a staggering 400% in the last year.
Multiple companies have already filed for a spot XRP ETF, including Franklin Templeton, Bitwise, Canary Capital, Grayscale, 21Sharse, and WisdomTree.
