Ripple (XRP) News Today: September 16th - Market Surges as Regulatory Clarity Emerges

XRP rockets 18% as SEC settlement rumors swirl—tradors pile in while traditional finance scrambles to keep up.

Breaking Down the Rally

Institutional adoption accelerates—three major payment processors now testing XRP for cross-border settlements. Liquidity pools hit record volumes as Asian markets lead the charge. Meanwhile, Wall Street analysts still can't decide if it's a 'speculative bubble' or 'the future of finance.'

Regulatory Winds Shift

Key jurisdictions greenlight XRP-based products—finally catching up to what crypto natives knew years ago. The FSA's latest guidance removes hurdles just as traditional banks start exploring blockchain solutions. Funny how regulation always arrives after the money's already moved.

Tech Stack Evolution

RippleNet processes surge 40% quarter-over-quarter—outpacing legacy SWIFT by every metric. Developers deploy new smart contract functionality, expanding use cases beyond mere payments. The network's scaling solutions handle increased throughput without breaking a sweat.

Market Outlook

Short squeezes trigger cascading buy orders—pushing XRP toward yearly highs. Derivatives markets signal sustained bullish sentiment despite occasional volatility. Of course, traditional finance pundits warn about 'irrational exuberance' while quietly adding exposure through backdoor ETFs.

Spot XRP ETF Coming This Week

Perhaps the most important news surrounding Ripple and its native token is the upcoming launch of an exchange-traded fund with XRP as the underlying token.

The issuer of the product, REX-Osprey, described the investment vehicle as the first spot XRP ETF in the US, but the popular journalist Eleanor Terrett provided more details about it. She claimed the product will operate as a “spot ETF with extras” and will hold XRP tokens, cash, Treasuries, and some derivatives. 

Bloomberg’s Eric Balchunas recently said the ETF (with the ticker XRPR) is scheduled to go live on September 18. Other spot XRP ETFs, though, continue to face setbacks. 

Earlier this month, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) extended the review period for the product filed by Franklin Templeton for another 60 days, which means that the new decision deadline is November 14, 2025.

Ripple’s Multi-Million Donation

On September 15, the company disclosed a $25 million investment in Accion Opportunity Fund and Hire Heroes USA. The funding, delivered in RLUSD, aims to expand access to capital for small business owners and create more career opportunities for veterans and military spouses. 

“It will also equip entrepreneurs with digital payment tools so communities across the US can thrive in today’s rapidly evolving economy. This marks Ripple’s second $25 million donation this year, underscoring the company’s ongoing commitment to giving back and expanding economic opportunity,” the announcement reads.

Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, said small businesses and veterans are two of “the most powerful engines of American progress, yet both face barriers that limit their full economic impact.” 

The crypto firm announced the news on its X account, claiming that this funding highlights how stablecoins can drive real-world impact. RLUSD is a USD-pegged stablecoin launched by Ripple towards the end of 2024. Over the past several months, it has undergone some serious progress, and currently, its market capitalization is approximately $730 million.

XRP Returns to Green Territory

Probably driven by the hype surrounding the launch of the REX-Osprey XRP ETF, the price of Ripple’s native cryptocurrency has reclaimed the $3 mark and currently trades at $3.04 (per CoinGecko’s data).

X user CRYPTOWZRD recently suggested that the asset may experience an “impulsive bullish move” should it clear the $3.1320 resistance target. At the same time, Ali Martinez warned that $2.80 is the most important support level.

Meanwhile, the amount of XRP coins stored on leading crypto exchanges continues to rise, signaling an increased selling pressure. Currently, over 3.6 billion tokens are held on Binance alone, representing the highest level ever.