XRP continues to make strides in institutional finance, with Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse recently commending a new development set to redefine XRP accessibility for major market participants.
On May 19, CME Group unveiled its latest initiative—the introduction of XRP futures and Micro XRP futures on the X platform. This move enables institutional traders to engage with XRP in a more flexible, derivative-based format without directly holding the token. According to Garlinghouse, this marks a significant advancement for XRP adoption in mainstream finance.
The availability of futures gives institutions an alternative method to hedge or speculate on XRP’s performance. Investors now have the option to buy or sell these contracts either outright or at a predetermined settlement equivalent to the day’s index close. More notably, Ripple’s own acquisition, the prime brokerage firm Hidden Road, reportedly facilitated the first major transaction as trading officially commenced.
Despite the buzz surrounding this launch, XRP’s market performance remained relatively muted. CoinMarketCap data shows the coin declined by 0.33% within 24 hours following the announcement. However, this subdued reaction wasn’t unexpected, as the futures rollout had already been disclosed in April, leaving little room for surprise-induced volatility.
Meanwhile, Bitcoin advocates like Samson Mow are drawing attention to potential all-time highs for the world’s largest cryptocurrency. In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Mow, CEO of JAN3 and a well-known crypto commentator, shared sentiments indicating optimism for Bitcoin’s trajectory. Using the phrase “Feels like ATH season,” he hinted at a broader bullish trend, without directly mentioning BTC by name. However, his posting history consistently centers on Bitcoin, leaving little ambiguity in interpretation.
As of now, Bitcoin is trading around $104,668 after reaching $107,140 over the past weekend. While it remains just shy of its previously recorded peak of $109,114 set in January, many are predicting a breakout in the near future. Notable financial figures echo similar sentiments—Robert Kiyosaki, author of “Rich Dad Poor Dad,” suggested Bitcoin could reach $250,000, while Galaxy Digital’s Mike Novogratz anticipates a climb first to $130,000, followed by $150,000.
Elsewhere in the crypto sphere, the Shiba Inu project also revealed a significant technical development related to its Shibarium blockchain. A recent update from the project’s affiliated social media account @Shibizens highlighted the early-stage testing of SHIB’s Layer-3 Alpha solution on Puppynet. The team emphasized this technology integrates smoothly with both ZK and Optimistic rollups, enabling future scalability and cost optimization for decentralized applications built on the platform.
Among its defining features, SHIB Alpha Layer aims to support real-world digital infrastructure and drive next-generation dApp creation. In a cautionary note, the developers clarified that the platform is still in pre-release phase and shared a warning against falling victim to fraudulent actors impersonating the official release. Interest from significant institutions—including reported engagement by the UAE Ministry of Energy—signals growing trust in SHIB’s evolving ecosystem.
As XRP gains traction with institutional-grade tools and Bitcoin flirts with historic highs, the broader crypto market is experiencing a period of renewed momentum. Ripple’s recent developments affirm XRP’s strategic progress in merging with traditional financial systems, laying a foundation for broader utility among established investors.
