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XRP ETFs Log One Month of Inflows as BTC, ETH Funds Bleed $4.6B

16 December 2025 at 08:53

US-listed spot XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have recorded one month of consecutive net inflows since their November 13 debut, setting them apart from Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs that experienced billions in outflows over the same period.

The milestone marks a turning point for XRP, which was excluded from traditional investment vehicles for years due to regulatory uncertainty surrounding Ripple’s legal battle with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Now, with spot ETFs lifting that barrier, institutional capital is flowing into the asset at a pace that has surprised even bullish observers.

A Stark Contrast With BTC and ETH

According to SoSoValue data, XRP spot ETFs have attracted fresh capital every trading session since launch, lifting cumulative net inflows to approximately $990.9 million as of December 12. Total net assets across the five products climbed to about $1.18 billion, with no single day of net redemptions recorded.

Source: Sosovalue

The consistency stands out in a market where even the largest crypto ETFs have struggled to maintain steady momentum. Over the same 30-day window, US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded approximately $3.39 billion in net outflows, including a single-day withdrawal of roughly $903 million on November 20. Ethereum ETFs followed a similar pattern, posting about $1.26 billion in net outflows.

The divergence was most pronounced on December 1. On that day, XRP ETFs brought in $89.65 million while Bitcoin ETFs gained just $8.48 million—roughly one-tenth of XRP’s figure. Ethereum ETFs, meanwhile, recorded more than $79 million in net outflows.

December trading has further highlighted the contrast. Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded four negative flow days compared to eight positive days, while Ethereum ETFs displayed similar volatility with five negative days and seven positive days through December 12. XRP ETFs maintained positive flows throughout.

Second-Fastest to $1 Billion

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse noted that XRP has become one of the fastest spot crypto ETFs to reach $1 billion in assets under management in the US, trailing only Ethereum.

“There’s pent-up demand for regulated crypto products,” Garlinghouse stated. He highlighted Vanguard’s recent decision to offer access to crypto ETFs through traditional retirement and investment accounts, noting that crypto is now “accessible to millions more people who don’t need to be experts in the technology.”

Garlinghouse also emphasized that longevity, stability, and community strength are increasingly essential themes for these new “off-chain crypto investors.”

👀<4 weeks, and XRP is now the fastest crypto Spot ETF to reach $1B in AUM (since ETH) in the US.

With over 40 crypto ETFs launched this year in the US alone, a few points are obvious to me:

1/ there’s pent up demand for regulated crypto products, and with Vanguard opening up…

— Brad Garlinghouse (@bgarlinghouse) December 8, 2025

CME Expands Derivatives Infrastructure

CME Group announced the launch of Spot-Quoted XRP and SOL futures on December 15, further expanding institutional access to XRP.

“We’ve seen strong demand for our current Spot-Quoted Bitcoin and Ether futures, with more than 1.3 million contracts traded since launched in June, and we are pleased to add XRP and SOL to our offering,” said Giovanni Vicioso, Global Head of Cryptocurrency Products at CME Group.

The existing Spot-Quoted Bitcoin and Ether futures have experienced substantial growth, with December average daily volume reaching 35,300 contracts and a record trade day of 60,700 combined contracts on November 24.

Price Lags Behind as Accumulation Signals Build

Market analysts suggest that the uninterrupted inflow pattern indicates that XRP ETFs are being used as structural allocations rather than as tactical trading instruments.

“This is just 5 spot ETFs. No BlackRock, no 10-15 ETFs exposure yet, but they are coming,” one analyst noted, projecting that if weekly inflows remain near $200 million, cumulative inflows could surpass $10 billion by 2026.

Source: BeInCrypto

Despite strong ETF inflows, XRP’s price performance has remained subdued. The token has declined nearly 15% over the past month and was trading at $1.89 at press time.

The disconnect between inflows and price may reflect the mechanics of ETF markets. ETF creation and redemption involve complex arbitrage processes that delay price effects. Market makers hedging their positions may also blunt some of the immediate impact from inflows.

The post XRP ETFs Log One Month of Inflows as BTC, ETH Funds Bleed $4.6B appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Trump Hints at Samourai Wallet Pardon — Another After CZ, Ulbricht

16 December 2025 at 08:04

President Donald Trump said he would consider pardoning Keonne Rodriguez, the CEO of privacy-focused Bitcoin wallet Samourai, who was sentenced to five years in federal prison last month for money laundering charges.

The statement reignited debate over the privacy technology of cryptocurrencies. It also raised questions about whether other convicted developers, including Tornado Cash’s Roman Storm, might receive similar presidential clemency.

Calls for More Pardons Meet Market Frustration

During a press briefing on Dec. 15, a reporter asked Trump about Rodriguez’s case, noting it began under the Biden administration but continued under his Department of Justice. Trump responded, “I’ve heard about it. I’ll look at it.” The President added that he would review the matter after the reporter mentioned widespread support for clemency within the crypto community.

Rodriguez, 37, and co-founder William Lonergan Hill, 67, were convicted of operating a cryptocurrency mixing service. The prosecutors say the two facilitated the laundering of over $237 million in criminal proceeds. Rodriguez received five years, while Hill received four years, with both ordered to pay $250,000 in fines.

The announcement drew varied responses. Some supporters expressed hope that the decision would provide momentum for crypto-friendly policies. One X user even called for extending clemency to Do Kwon, the embattled founder of the collapsed Terra/Luna ecosystem.

However, critics pointed to broader market performance under Trump’s presidency. Since he took office, there have been significant declines across major cryptocurrencies, with some tokens down more than 70%.

Prosecution’s Case Against “Simple Developer” Narrative

The Department of Justice presented evidence that challenges the portrayal of Rodriguez and Hill as mere privacy tool developers. According to the Nov. 19 sentencing announcement, prosecutors demonstrated that the founders actively promoted their services to criminal users.

Hill allegedly marketed Samourai on Dread, a darknet forum, directly responding to a user seeking “secure methods to clean dirty BTC” by recommending Whirlpool as a superior option. Rodriguez reportedly encouraged Twitter hackers in 2020 to funnel stolen proceeds through the mixing service. He even expressed disappointment when they chose a competitor.

Most damaging was Rodriguez’s own description of mixing as “money laundering for bitcoin” in WhatsApp messages. At the same time, the company’s marketing materials acknowledged targeting “Dark/Grey Market participants” moving proceeds from “illicit activity.”

Prosecutors said criminal funds processed through Samourai originated from drug trafficking, darknet marketplaces, cyber intrusions, fraud, sanctioned jurisdictions, murder-for-hire schemes, and a child pornography website.

Broader Implications

The case has reignited debate over developer liability for user actions on decentralized platforms. Privacy advocates argue that the prosecution sets a dangerous precedent for open-source software development, while law enforcement maintains that actively promoting criminal use crosses legal boundaries.

Online discussions have expanded to question whether Roman Storm, the Tornado Cash developer convicted on similar charges in August, might also be considered for clemency. Storm was found guilty of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business. The jury deadlocked on more serious money laundering and sanctions violation charges.

Congress continues to debate cryptocurrency regulation. The lawmakers are introducing multiple bills to clarify the legal status of privacy-enhancing technologies, though none have passed into law.

Trump has previously pardoned several crypto figures, including former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao and Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht, establishing a pattern that fuels speculation about future clemency decisions in the sector.

The post Trump Hints at Samourai Wallet Pardon — Another After CZ, Ulbricht appeared first on BeInCrypto.

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