XRP Futures Surge to $26.9B on CME as Institutional Appetite Accelerates
Ripple’s derivatives momentum signals deeper mainstream integration ahead of its Nasdaq-linked treasury plans.
XRP’s momentum is shifting from retail speculation to institutional strength. CME Group reports $26.9 billion in XRP futures traded since May, a sign of surging demand from professional investors. With Ripple’s new prime brokerage launch and plans for an XRP-based Nasdaq treasury, the token’s foothold in regulated markets is deepening.
XRP is drawing renewed attention from institutional investors. According to CME Group, trading in XRP and Micro XRP futures has reached a notional value of $26.9 billion since the contracts debuted in May 2025. That’s an average of $213 million in daily volume, representing more than 567,000 contracts traded in just five months.
The figures mark XRP’s growing presence in the regulated derivatives market, where open interest climbed to a record $1.4 billion in September. CME also recorded 29 large open interest holders, a sign that traditional players are entering what was once a retail-driven corner of crypto.
The activity coincides with XRP’s three-day rally from around $2.00 to $2.61. While short-term price gains attract headlines, the bigger story lies in structure — how liquidity, compliance, and institutional demand are reshaping XRP’s market profile.
Ripple is leaning hard into that shift. The company recently finalized its acquisition of global trading firm Hidden Road, rebranding it as Ripple Prime, becoming the first crypto firm to own and operate a global, multi-asset prime brokerage. CEO Brad Garlinghouse called it “a new chapter in building an Internet of Value,” reaffirming XRP’s role as the core bridge in Ripple’s ecosystem.
At the same time, Ripple is leading an initiative to raise at least $1 billion for an XRP-based treasury, expected to list on Nasdaq under the ticker XRPN. Together, these moves signal a deliberate effort to secure XRP’s institutional relevance — not through hype, but infrastructure.
Technically, momentum indicators support the story. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) has climbed from 39.5 to 51, showing renewed buying energy, while the Average Directional Index (ADX) around 36 suggests trend strength is building. A sustained break above $2.80 could open the path toward $3.20, while failure to clear resistance might invite a retest near $2.20.
CME’s data and Ripple’s strategy point to the same conclusion: XRP’s institutional phase has begun. What was once a speculative token now carries measurable participation from regulated markets, and that changes the conversation around its long-term role.
Want data-driven insight into crypto markets, regulation, and derivatives? Subscribe to Canhav Crypto Research for weekly coverage built on metrics, not hype.