The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is currently reviewing several applications for XRP-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs). It is expected to announce its final decision on most of these applications by October 2025. But there are some factors that create a strong bullish environment that can improve the likelihood of XRP ETF approval soon.
Three Bullish Reasons That Can Help with XRP ETF Approval
Ripple Labs and the SEC have officially agreed to dismiss the appeals filed in the legal battle, bringing the five-year dispute to an end.
This agreement between the SEC and Ripple can remove a major obstacle from the path, as it directly influences the XRP ETF application approval. It will improve regulatory clarity, combined with XRP meeting updated SEC standards. With renewed confidence in Ripple’s future, market analysts now estimate the probability of XRP spot ETF approval as high as 95%.
Ripple’s $200 million rail acquisition can indirectly help with the regulatory approval for an XRP ETF. This enhances the company’s overall regulatory profile and institutional appeal with compliance capability and enterprise-grade infrastructure.
Ripple is also expanding its acquisition and partnership with banking and payment-focused firms like Bank of New York Mellon (BNY Mellon), which acts as the custodian of Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin. Despite these advances, there is no explicit indication that these deals will directly or immediately lead to XRP ETF approval.
- RealFi’s Institutional Launch
RealFi launched a tokenization platform on August 3, 2025, enabling the tokenization of assets like property, allowing for fractional ownership and trading via XRP and other tokens. Following the initial success with onboarding 3,000 users, RealFi is now launching the next phase.
This can indirectly support the approval of an XRP ETF with practical large-scale use cases for XRP in institutional asset management. This strengthens XRP’s utility narrative, which could add confidence for regulators and institutional investors by showcasing XRP’s real-world application beyond speculation.
Final Thought
While the rail acquisition and RealFi’s institutional launch enhance XRP’s ecosystem and institutional credibility, it does not directly impact the SEC’s application. These three factors, however, boost confidence in the XRP ETF. Besides this, the global efforts, including ETF applications outside the US, can further reinforce long-term approval odds for XRP.