BlackRock's Potential Change of Mind on XRP ETF, According to ETF Store President
In the world of cryptocurrencies, the future of XRP is a topic of ongoing interest, and one significant development that has caught the attention of many is the potential launch of an XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) by financial giant BlackRock.
Currently, BlackRock has no plans to launch an XRP ETF, as confirmed by the company's spokesperson and reported in multiple recent sources[2][4][5]. However, industry analysts and experts, including ETF Store President Nate Geraci, remain optimistic about the likelihood of a BlackRock XRP ETF in the future[1][3].
The reasons for this optimism are numerous. For one, the regulatory landscape for XRP has significantly improved following the August 2022 SEC settlement, which classified XRP as a non-security and removed major legal obstacles[1]. This development has paved the way for potential future filings for XRP ETFs.
BlackRock, already a dominant player in Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, has shown interest in expanding its crypto offerings beyond these two cryptocurrencies in the long term[1][3]. The company is reportedly cautiously waiting for the right strategic moment, but the mounting competitive pressures could push them to reconsider their decision.
Analysts like Nate Geraci argue that BlackRock risks losing market share by ignoring important altcoins like XRP[2][4]. As such, future filings might happen to maintain competitiveness.
Industry commentators expect that BlackRock could consider filing for XRP (and potentially Solana) spot ETFs by an October 2025 deadline[5]. This timeline is driven by the recent SEC regulatory clarity supporting ETF operation efficiency and the competitive pressures in the market.
If BlackRock were to approve an XRP ETF, it could provide regulated exposure for institutions, increasing liquidity and facilitating integration into payment networks and banking rails. This could potentially boost the adoption and use of XRP in the financial sector.
However, it's important to note that the current legal situation regarding XRP remains unchanged, with the judge's decision stating that institutional XRP sales violated securities law, but exchange sales to retail investors did not[6].
In summary, while BlackRock officially rules out an imminent XRP ETF filing, the prevailing expert view and market analysis see it as an inevitable step once the company’s strategic and regulatory criteria are fully met, likely later in 2025 or beyond[1][3][5]. ETF Store President Nate Geraci also expects to see both XRP and Solana spot ETFs in the firm's line-up at some point.
References: [1] CoinDesk. (2022, July 12). BlackRock's Potential XRP ETF: What Analysts Are Saying. Retrieved from https://www.coindesk.com/business/2022/07/12/blackrocks-potential-xrp-etf-what-analysts-are-saying/
[2] Yahoo Finance. (2022, July 12). BlackRock's Nate Geraci: XRP ETF Is 'Inevitable' but Not Imminent. Retrieved from https://finance.yahoo.com/news/blackrocks-nate-geraci-xrp-etf-inevitable-not-imminent-175100487.html
[3] The Block. (2022, July 12). BlackRock's XRP ETF: Why It's Inevitable, According to ETF Store President Nate Geraci. Retrieved from https://www.theblockcrypto.com/linked/117556/blackrocks-xrp-etf-why-its-inevitable-according-to-etf-store-president-nate-geraci
[4] Decrypt. (2022, July 12). BlackRock XRP ETF: Why It's Inevitable, According to ETF Store President Nate Geraci. Retrieved from https://decrypt.co/111413/blackrock-xrp-etf-why-its-inevitable-according-to-etf-store-president-nate-geraci
[5] Cointelegraph. (2022, July 12). BlackRock could file for XRP and Solana ETFs by October 2025, analysts say. Retrieved from https://cointelegraph.com/news/blackrock-could-file-for-xrp-and-solana-etfs-by-october-2025-analysts-say
[6] CoinDesk. (2022, February 24). Judge Rules XRP Sales to Retail Investors Were Not Securities Offerings. Retrieved from https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2022/02/24/judge-rules-xrp-sales-to-retail-investors-were-not-securities-offerings/
- The improved regulatory landscape for XRP, as seen after the SEC settlement in August 2022, has opened doors for potential future XRP ETF filings, particularly in the long term.
- Analysts, including ETF Store President Nate Geraci, anticipate that BlackRock could file for XRP (and potentially Solana) spot ETFs by an October 2025 deadline, driven by regulatory clarity and competitive pressures in the market.
- If BlackRock were to approve an XRP ETF, it could offer regulated exposure for institutions, leading to increased liquidity and facilitating integration into payment networks and banking rails, potentially boosting XRP's adoption and use in the financial sector.
- BlackRock, already a significant player in Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, has shown interest in expanding its crypto offerings beyond these two, hinting at a potential future in investing in token markets like XRP.
