XRP ETFs Defy Crypto Winter: Steady Inflows Outshine Bitcoin and Ether ETF Struggles

While the crypto ETF giants stumble, a quiet contender keeps stacking capital.

The Steady Drip

Forget the flashy volatility. While headline-grabbing Bitcoin and Ether exchange-traded funds face choppy waters and investor skepticism, funds tracking XRP chart a different course. They're not making explosive moves—just consistently pulling in capital week after week. It’s a slow, deliberate accumulation that builds a formidable position while others flail.

Narrative vs. Numbers

The market loves a simple story. Bitcoin is digital gold; Ether is the world's computer. XRP? It's the banker's coin, the settlement rail—less sexy, perhaps, but with a utility that resonates in certain corridors of finance. That narrative appears to be translating into tangible, sustained demand in the ETF wrapper, proving that sometimes boring is beautiful. It’s a classic case of fundamentals quietly outperforming hype.

The Institutional Whisper

This pattern of inflows isn't retail FOMO. This is the sound of institutional allocation—measured, researched, and recurring. It suggests a segment of professional money sees durable value in XRP's niche, betting on its specific use case over broader, more speculative crypto narratives. They're not chasing moonshots; they're building infrastructure.

A Cynical Take on the Struggle

Let's be real: the struggle for Bitcoin and Ether ETFs isn't surprising. Wall Street loves to package an asset, slap a fee on it, and sell the dream—until the dream gets a little too real and volatile for their traditional playbook. Watching them grapple with the very assets they sought to commoditize is a form of poetic justice for the decentralized faithful.

The takeaway is clear. In the race for ETF relevance, consistency can be a sharper weapon than sheer size. While the titans battle headwinds, XRP's steady climb redefines what strength looks like in a maturing—and ruthlessly pragmatic—market.

TLDR

• Spot XRP ETFs have maintained a 29-day inflow streak despite volatile market conditions in December.
• XRP ETFs recorded net inflows of $8.44 million on Monday, bringing total inflows to $1.15 billion.
• Regulatory clarity and XRP’s cross-border settlement use case continue to drive investor confidence in the asset.
• Bitcoin and Ether ETFs faced significant outflows in December, with Bitcoin shedding over $1.1 billion.
• Institutional flows for Bitcoin and Ether ETFs are expected to normalize after the holiday period.

Spot XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have maintained a strong inflow streak, extending to 29 consecutive days through December. Despite volatile market conditions, these funds have attracted steady capital. As of Monday, spot XRP ETFs recorded net inflows of $8.44 million, bringing total cumulative inflows to $1.15 billion.

XRP ETFs Continue to Attract Steady Capital

Spot XRP ETFs have consistently drawn investor interest, with $478 million in inflows recorded this month. According to data from SoSoValue, the funds reached total net assets of $1.24 billion. This continued success comes despite broader market challenges, as XRP prices faced downward pressure.

The steady accumulation of capital into XRP ETFs is attributed to regulatory clarity and the asset’s unique use case.

“XRP’s cross-border settlement use case offers differentiated exposure that continues to attract longer-horizon capital,” said Vincent Liu, CIO at Kronos Research.

He noted that the fund’s performance reflects growing confidence in XRP’s value proposition.

Comparison to Bitcoin and Ether ETFs

While spot XRP ETFs performed well, other crypto ETFs such as Bitcoin and Ether faced difficulties in December. Spot Bitcoin ETFs saw more than $1.1 billion in outflows during the month. The largest single-day outflow occurred on December 15, when $357.7 million exited Bitcoin ETFs.

Similarly, spot Ether ETFs experienced a similar trend, with $612 million in net outflows. The largest withdrawal in Ether ETFs occurred on December 15, totaling $224.8 million. The market turbulence in December led to volatility across both bitcoin and Ether ETF products.

As the year-end approached, the Bitcoin and Ether ETF market remained under pressure. However, experts suggest that the trends may reverse once institutional activity picks up in January. Liu believes that despite the recent outflows, institutional flows are expected to normalize after the holiday period.

Bitcoin and Ether are anticipated to see continued institutional positioning in the coming months. Liu suggests that Bitcoin could experience a range-bound market profile, while Ether may benefit from increased adoption. Both assets are expected to see fluctuating demand, depending on market sentiment and broader macroeconomic conditions.