XRP ETFs continue to experience regulatory holdups, as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) remains cautious about greenlighting spot crypto funds — especially those connected to Ripple’s XRP. These repeated delays have drawn increasing scrutiny from investors and crypto advocates alike.

Why the SEC Keeps Pushing Back XRP ETF Decisions

Back in mid-August, the SEC began postponing a large number of spot XRP ETF applications. These delays forced ETF issuers to update and revise their submissions, with some deadlines moved months into the future—for instance, Franklin’s filing was pushed from September 17 to November. This pattern follows a familiar playbook previously used for Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs.

John Squire, a well-known figure in the XRP Army with over 500,000 followers on X, explored the strategic behind-the-scenes reasons for these delays. He pointed out that the SEC almost always extends first-round deliberations to open the floor for public comments and conduct additional review. According to him, this tactic is especially prevalent during politically sensitive years.

He explained that approving an XRP ETF would signal official recognition of rising institutional demand for the asset—something the agency may want to delay for political or regulatory alignment.

“The SEC is stalling to prevent appearing too aggressive as we head into a politically charged year.”

He also noted that the SEC isn’t just stalling blindly—it’s closely examining issues around how XRP ETFs would handle custody, settlement processes, and surveillance-sharing arrangements. The agency appears intent on covering every legal and structural detail before granting approval.

Delay Doesn’t Equal Denial

Squire made it clear these deferrals shouldn’t be seen as outright rejections. In fact, digital asset ETFs like those for Bitcoin and Ethereum followed a nearly identical pathway, experiencing multiple delays before finally receiving the green light in 2024.

Crypto analysts and ETF specialists often echo this outlook. Squire’s stance is that XRP ETFs are not just likely—they’re unavoidable. As he put it bluntly in a recent post:

“A delay is not rejection. It’s part of the SEC’s checklist. Wall Street craves exposure. Spot $XRP ETFs are inevitable.”

This optimistic outlook is gaining traction among financial analysts and predictive markets alike. For example, ETF authority Nate Geraci from the ETF Institute indicated that he sees XRP ETFs as almost certain to launch in the U.S. within the year. Similarly, Polymarket betting odds are aligning closely with this prediction.

Current Polymarket odds show increasing confidence in XRP ETF approval by year-end.

Related: XRP Price: $12M Max Pain for Bears

Despite the frustration around prolonged SEC timelines, the underlying sentiment from experts and the crypto community remains largely hopeful. The ongoing delays signal caution but not disapproval. As long as investor appetite grows and necessary frameworks fall into place, XRP’s inclusion in ETF markets seems like a matter of when—not if.