Franklin Templeton joins the XRP spot ETF race, adding momentum to institutional adoption amid SEC regulatory uncertainty. The SEC delays decisions on XRP, Litecoin, and Solana ETFs, but analysts remain optimistic about eventual approvals.
Analysts speculate on behind-the-scenes SEC-Ripple negotiations, hinting at a possible deal before the April deadline.
XRP-Spot ETF Filings
Activity in the US ETF space drew investor interest on Tuesday, March 11. Franklin Templeton filed for an XRP-spot ETF, joining a growing list of ETF issuers targeting institutional demand for XRP. 21Shares, Bitwise Invest, Canary Funds, Grayscale, and WisdomTree have also filed for XRP-spot ETFs. Bloomberg Intelligence Senior ETF Analyst Eric Balchunas referred to the Franklin Templeton filing and the influx of alt/meme-coin ETF filings, stating.
Franklin Templeton’s filing signals optimism that the SEC may approve altcoin ETFs, particularly in light of Trump’s election win and the anticipated regulatory overhaul. Bloomberg Intelligence analyst James Seyffart provided an update on recent crypto-spot ETF filings.
Atkins’ SEC Confirmation and Ripple Appeal
James Seyffart highlighted that Paul Atkins awaits confirmation as SEC Chair. The timing of his appointment could be significant, especially as the SEC navigates its appeal in the Ripple case. The agency filed its appeal-related opening brief on January 15, challenging the programmatic sales of the XRP ruling. Ripple must file its appeal-related reply brief by April 16.
The April 16 deadline suggests the SEC may delay its decision on whether to pursue or withdraw the appeal. Significantly, lawmakers could confirm Paul Atkins’ nomination before the April deadline. If lawmakers confirm Atkins before the deadline, Acting Chair Mark Uyeda, Commissioner Hester Peirce, and potential SEC Chair Atkins could collectively push for an appeal withdrawal.
Under internal rules, an agency vote, not the chair alone, determines whether to proceed with or drop an appeal. A quorum of at least three commissioners must be present for a decision. Pro-crypto lawyer Fred Rispoli suggested an agency vote on the Ripple appeal is a formality. Pro-crypto lawyer James ‘MetaLawMan’ Murphy recently speculated that ongoing SEC-Ripple negotiations may have delayed an appeal withdrawal. An appeal withdrawal could eliminate legal hurdles that may hinder XRP spot ETF approvals.
XRP Price Surge Amid Optimism and Key Factors
On Tuesday, March 11, XRP rallied 7.44%, reversing Monday’s 5.33% drop to close at $2.1718. XRP outperformed the broader crypto market, which gained 4.75%, taking the total market cap to $2.64 trillion. Investor optimism over a potential SEC appeal withdrawal and XRP-spot ETF approval drove demand.
Key factors influencing XRP’s price outlook include:
US Strategic Reserve Asset: A push for a multi-crypto reserve could improve market sentiment.
SEC Appeal Strategy: If the SEC drops its appeal, XRP could surge past its all-time high of $3.55. However, prolonged legal uncertainty might drag prices below $1.50.
XRP-Spot ETF Developments: Approval of an XRP-spot ETF could trigger institutional inflows, potentially lifting prices toward $5. However, an ongoing appeal may delay the process.
Macro Risks: Trade tensions and rising US inflation could push XRP toward the February low of $1.7938. On the other hand, easing trade tensions and softer inflation could support a recovery toward $2.50.
Bitcoin Rebounds Amid Politics
On March 11, bitcoin (BTC) ended a five-day losing streak, triggered by President Trump’s tariffs and Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR) Executive Order. Fears of a US recession and disappointment over Trump’s reluctance to make a sizeable BTC purchase dragged BTC to a March 11 low of $76,635.
However, Senator Cynthia Lummis rekindled hopes for legislation that could enable the Trump administration to accumulate BTC as a national strategic reserve asset. After Trump’s election win, Senator Lummis introduced the Bitcoin Act. The bill proposes the US government acquire one million BTC over five years, with a 20-year mandatory holding period.
BTC-Spot ETFs Face Outflows
Despite optimism surrounding the Bitcoin Act, BTC-spot ETFs continued to face outflows. On March 10, the US BTC-spot ETF market reported net outflows of $393.3 million, extending its outflow streak to three sessions. US recession fears impacted institutional demand, leading BTC to the session low of $76,635.
Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) had net outflows of $107.1 million. Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) reported net outflows of $35.5 million. Franklin Bitcoin ETF (EZBC) saw net outflows of $33.7 million. Excluding flow data for iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), the US BTC-spot ETF market reported $219.7 million in net outflows.
BTC-spot ETF flows are crucial for Bitcoin’s supply-demand balance and price trajectory. A third consecutive day of net outflows pressured BTC early in the March 12 session.
Final thoughts
The paper addresses essential changes in the bitcoin market, especially with relation to XRP’s spot ETF and institutional acceptance in front of continuous SEC regulatory ambiguity. Along with other prominent participants like Grayscale and Bitwise, Franklin Templeton’s decision to seek an XRP-spot ETF indicates growing institutional curiosity in XRP. Reflecting a change toward more regulated crypto investment products as institutional involvement in the sector increases, this activity emphasizes an increasing desire for cryptocurrency ETFs.
For the larger market, the continuous legal struggle between the SEC and Ripple is still absolutely vital. Particularly with pro-crypto leaders like Paul Atkins influencing SEC decisions, conjecture on the possible abandonment of the appeal in the Ripple case is inspiring hope. Should the SEC drop the appeal, XRP and other altcoin ETFs could potentially undergo a significant transformation and potentially pave the way for increased market acceptance.