First U.S. XRP ETF Launch September 18, CME XRP Futures Options Coming October 13

XRP is gaining significant attention from traditional finance as new investment products emerge across securities and derivatives markets, creating additional access points for token exposure. At press time, XRP traded at approximately $3.0263, down nearly 1% over 24 hours according to CoinDesk Data. On September 18, REX Shares and Osprey Funds will introduce the first U.S.-listed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking XRP and Dogecoin (DOGE) on the Cboe BZX Exchange under tickers XRPR and DOJE. These are not pure spot ETFs but hybrid products holding digital assets directly while also investing in non-U.S. spot ETFs for additional exposure. Bloomberg Intelligence analyst James Seyffart noted the structure allows potential derivatives use, though not as the primary method. This approach reflects regulatory challenges in U.S. crypto ETF creation, yet marks the first XRP and DOGE ETF accessibility for American brokerage accounts, expanding beyond dominant bitcoin and ether offerings. Additionally, CME Group plans to list options on XRP and Solana (SOL) futures starting October 13, pending regulatory approval. These options will cover standard and micro contracts, catering to institutions, trading desks, and retail traders with daily, monthly, and quarterly expiries for flexible risk management. The move follows substantial growth in altcoin futures trading volume: SOL futures reached 540,000 contracts ($22.3B notional) since March, while XRP futures hit 370,000 contracts ($16.2B notional) since May. Market makers like Cumberland and FalconX endorsed the expansion, highlighting needed hedging tools beyond major cryptocurrencies. CME Group, operating the world's largest regulated derivatives marketplace, continues expanding its crypto derivatives suite from bitcoin and ether into additional liquid tokens, providing centralized clearing and margin efficiencies.