The XRP futures market is set for expansion as the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Group confirmed it will begin offering XRP futures contracts starting May 19, 2025. This move marks a significant step forward for crypto adoption in traditional finance as CME, known as one of the largest financial derivatives platforms globally, continues integrating altcoins into its financial product lineup.
In an official announcement made on April 24, CME detailed that traders will be able to choose between two contract sizes: a micro contract comprising 2,500 XRP and a standard contract with 50,000 XRP. All contracts will be cash-settled, blending volatility exposure with the convenience of no physical asset handling.
Earlier in January 2025, clues on the CME website hinted at the upcoming launch of XRP futures. However, that page quietly disappeared, leaving speculations about regulatory or operational delays. The latest confirmation cements CME’s role in paving the way for institutional adoption of assets beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Broadly, this development is another sign that increased institutional acceptance of cryptocurrencies is underway. CME’s decision aligns with a broader wave of financial innovation where traditional firms continue seeking exposure to blockchain-based assets, especially altcoins like Ripple’s XRP.
Traditional Finance’s Continued Interest in Altcoins
This XRP update fits squarely within a pattern of legacy financial institutions embracing altcoins. Earlier this year, back on March 17, the CME introduced Solana (SOL) futures with 500 SOL standard and 25 SOL micro contracts. These offerings aim to provide diversified opportunities for investors seeking strategic crypto risk exposure.
Meanwhile, players beyond exchanges are also testing crypto’s integration within traditional frameworks. For example, Canary Capital filed an application with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for a novel staked TRX (Tron) ETF. This type of exchange-traded fund would provide exposure to TRX while generating yield through token staking. As of the time of filing, staking rewards for TRX hovered around 4.5% annually—an appealing feature for income-focused investors.
In another noteworthy development, Crypto.com recently partnered with Trump Media and Technology Group to co-create an ETF that will track prominent U.S.-based crypto projects. This ETF will trade under the Truth.Fi name, reflecting the former U.S. President’s interest in decentralized finance. According to sources, the fund aims to begin trading before 2025 ends, though final regulatory approval is still pending. You can read more about the collaboration here.
Data from ETF expert Eric Balchunas suggests there are currently over 70 crypto ETF applications awaiting approval from the SEC. These filings encompass a broad variety of crypto assets—from top altcoins like XRP, Litecoin, and Solana to more unconventional themes involving meme tokens and doubled-leverage offerings. In a post on X, Balchunas predicted, “Gonna be a wild year.”
Beyond XRP futures and growing ETF interest, the trend is clear: cryptocurrency assets are coming into sharper focus for institutional investors. With regulatory clarity improving, demand for financial products that offer secure, regulated access to crypto volatility continues to mount. As assets like XRP join the futures lists on legacy exchanges, doors are opening for deeper market participation across an expanding segment of the crypto economy.
For more insights, you can also read: CME Group taps Google Cloud for pilot asset tokenization program.
And don’t miss this editorial feature: Ethereum maxis should become ‘assholes’ to win TradFi tokenization race.
