First XRP ETF Tops $100 Million Amid SEC Delay on New Approvals

Core Insights - XRP's first US exchange-traded fund (ETF) has surpassed $100 million in assets under management (AUM) shortly after its launch, indicating strong institutional interest in regulated digital asset exposure [1][2] - The fund, launched in September, provides direct spot access to XRP and reflects a significant shift towards integrating digital assets into mainstream finance [2] - Regulatory delays from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have stalled several pending spot XRP ETF applications, impacting the approval process for new products [3] Institutional Activity - Despite regulatory challenges, institutional interest in XRP is growing, as evidenced by the CME Group's introduction of XRP options following a successful uptake of XRP futures contracts [4] - The CME Group reported over 567,000 XRP futures contracts traded, amounting to approximately $26.9 billion in notional volume, equivalent to about 9 billion XRP tokens [4] - Client demand for new options products has increased as traders look to hedge against volatility and diversify their exposure [5]