XRP ETFs Surpass $60 Million Despite Price Struggles

XRP-linked exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have reached approximately $60 million in assets under management (AUM) as of December 17, according to recent market analyses. This growth comes at a time when XRP’s spot price has been declining.

Key Takeaways

XRP-linked ETFs have reached approximately $60 million in assets despite a price drop.
The disconnect between ETF growth and XRP's spot price is attributed to the timing of purchases by fund managers.
Institutional decision-making is typically slow, influencing ETF AUM increases.
Mixed market signals show potential accumulation by some holders despite price declines.

XRP

At the moment of reporting, XRP was trading at around $1.86, which shows a drop of over 8% in the past week. The significant increase in ETF assets juxtaposed with a falling spot price has left many investors feeling perplexed.

Understanding ETF Flows

Chad Steingraber explains that the functionality of ETFs can help clarify this discrepancy. ETF shares are traded on exchanges like regular stocks during market hours. After the trading day ends, fund managers tally net flows and arrange purchases of the underlying XRP. This timing means that inflows into the ETF do not immediately translate into buying pressure in the spot market.

Officially crossed $60Million!
Record day! link
— Chad Steingraber (@ChadSteingraber) December 18, 2025

The Slow Nature of Institutional Processes

Reports indicate that part of this situation stems from the slow nature of institutional decision-making. Larger funds tend to proceed cautiously. They conduct thorough checks, assess risks, and take time to approve new investments. This process can take months, meaning that an increase in ETF AUM can reflect a careful strategy rather than rapid investment decisions.

Looking at XRP’s performance on the charts, the cryptocurrency has faced pressure for several months. Traders monitoring long-term trends note a consistent downtrend and multiple warnings suggesting a potential broader pullback starting mid-year.

Current XRP price at $1.87. Chart: TradingView

Over the past month, XRP has decreased approximately 12%. The price is currently testing support levels between $1.80 and $1.90. If it breaks below $1.80, attention may shift towards the $1.60 level, eventually moving toward a wider support band of $1.30 to $1.40 should selling pressure continue.

While $60 million is a notable amount, it is relatively small compared to the asset levels typically seen in larger crypto ETFs, possibly not enough to significantly influence market movements.

ETF structures vary as well. Some managers may use hedging strategies, implement staged purchases, or adopt other tactics that impact how and when they acquire XRP. Such operational choices can limit any immediate effect on pricing.

📊 Here's a look at non-empty wallets for top capitalized assets:
🪙 Ethereum $ETH: 167.96M
🪙 Bitcoin $BTC: 57.62M
🪙 Tether $USDT: 9.63M
🪙 Dogecoin $DOGE: 8.13M
🪙 XRP Ledger $XRP: 7.41M
🪙 Cardano $ADA: 4.54M
🪙 USD Coin $USDC: 4.39M
🪙 ChainLink…
— Santiment (@santimentfeed) December 18, 2025

📊 Breakdown of non-empty wallets for leading assets:
🪙 Ethereum $ETH: 167.96M
🪙 Bitcoin $BTC: 57.62M
🪙 Tether $USDT: 9.63M
🪙 Dogecoin $DOGE: 8.13M
🪙 XRP Ledger $XRP: 7.41M
🪙 Cardano $ADA: 4.54M
🪙 USD Coin $USDC: 4.39M
🪙 ChainLink…
— Santiment (@santimentfeed) December 18, 2025

At the same time, reports indicate that the number of non-empty wallets on the XRP Ledger has been increasing. Santiment has noted a rise in addresses that hold XRP. Even though the token's price has declined recently, on-chain wallet activity suggests that some holders are accumulating more XRP. This pattern prompts speculation about whether larger investors are discreetly increasing their positions.

Currently, the markets exhibit mixed signals. While the growth of ETF AUM suggests increasing institutional interest over time, price movements indicate caution among investors.

Traders and investors will closely observe whether end-of-day ETF purchases create more demand in the spot market and whether the crucial $1.80 support level holds up. The upcoming days and weeks will be vital in determining if the AUM gains lead to wider buying interest or if the ongoing technical pressure will prevail.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView