XRP Climbs to $2.13 as CME Futures Launch and SEC Settlement Drive Institutional Momentum

XRP is trading 1.55% higher on Wednesday at $2.13, up 18.3% over the past month as institutional interest, favorable legal momentum, and a growing derivatives market drive renewed confidence in Ripple's native token.

CME Group will launch XRP futures on May 19, marking a watershed moment for the token's accessibility to institutional investors. The move brings XRP into the same arena as Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) and Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH), which both saw price appreciation after debuting futures markets on CME. 

XRP daily transactions have surged to over $5.3 billion in anticipation, with active wallet addresses skyrocketing more than 600% in the last week.

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Ripple's legal battle with the SEC continues to trend in its favor. The regulator dropped charges against two top executives, and a settlement agreement now awaits final approval from the SEC Commission and the courts. The revised penalty has been reduced to $50 million—down from $125 million—and Ripple has agreed to withdraw its cross-appeal. If approved, the resolution would mark the formal end of a multi-year regulatory overhang.

CEO Brad Garlinghouse confirmed the developments in Ripple's final public XRP Markets Report. While the reports will no longer be published quarterly, Ripple said it will continue to disclose holdings and updates online. Garlinghouse said that transparency is a top priority, even as the SEC case nears closure.

With improved regulatory clarity, the launch of CME derivatives, and a surge in institutional investment interest, short- to mid-term forecasts have shifted toward the $5–$10 range—particularly if CME's XRP futures mimic the bullish inflows seen for Bitcoin in 2017.

Ripple is also advancing its ecosystem through strategic acquisitions. The $1.25 billion purchase of Hidden Road is expected to boost adoption of XRPL and RLUSD, particularly in FX and repo markets, where speed and cost-efficiency are paramount.

At a broader level, XRP-based exchange-traded products (ETPs) are gaining traction. Teucrium's new 2x Long Daily XRP ETF has already posted $5 million in trading volume, placing it among the top 5% of ETF launches. Meanwhile, speculation continues to build around a U.S. XRP spot ETF approval later this year.

Ripple's growth has spurred interest in related DeFi projects like Xpfinance, which is marketing itself as XRPL's first fully decentralized lending platform. Similarly, XRP community members are watching developments in BTCFi closely, including the rise of platforms like StratoVM.

Key dates to watch include the May 8 SEC closed meeting—where the Ripple settlement vote may take place—and May 19, when CME XRP futures are scheduled to launch. A confirmed settlement and successful derivatives debut could spark a breakout above the $2.50 level and toward the psychologically important $3.00 range.

Investors should remain mindful of macroeconomic risks. Federal Reserve policy, U.S.–China trade tensions, and broader crypto sentiment will also shape price action in the weeks ahead.

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