- CME XRP futures hit all-time highs, reflecting rising institutional interest in regulated crypto exposure.
- Polymarket odds for Ripple ETF reach 79%, fueling new trading momentum across major exchanges.
CME Group has reported a new high in open interest for its XRP futures, reaching more than 6,000 contracts as of August 18. This marks a record level since the futures went live in May. Over the past three months, more than 251,000 contracts have been traded on the platform, with a notional volume of $9.02 billion.
Each standard XRP futures contract on CME is set at 50,000 XRP, which is currently valued at around $145,000. The exchange also offers micro contracts sized at 2,500 XRP, designed to cater to smaller-scale traders. CME noted that the average daily volume in recent weeks has reached $143.2 million, indicating growing liquidity.
A new record for XRP futures! 📈
They hit an all-time high in open interest with 6K+ contracts on August 18, right as their anniversary approaches.
It's a clear sign of growing conviction in the market. ➡️ https://t.co/8nheY8T9FP pic.twitter.com/K6oEPFFzyc
— CME Group (@CMEGroup) August 21, 2025
Data from CoinGlass shows that XRP futures open interest across all platforms stands at $7.5 billion. Bitget currently leads with $1.72 billion in open interest, followed by Binance at $1.17 billion. CME holds fourth place with $930 million. Other exchanges in the top 10 include OKX, KuCoin, MEXC, and Hyperliquid.
While XRP derivatives hit nearly $11 billion in open interest in late July during a broader rally, current levels remain strong. XRP futures have become a regular part of institutional trading portfolios, alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum products already available through CME.
XRP Price Lags Behind Futures Trading Surge
Despite the rise in futures activity, XRP’s spot price has been under pressure. The token has dropped below $2.86 and is down 2% over the past 24 hours. It remains one of the lowest-performing large-cap tokens over the last week, trading alongside Ethereum in negative territory.
Futures markets, however, continue to show consistent activity, suggesting traders are preparing for future moves. Positions in both standard and micro contracts reflect a broad mix of short-term strategies and longer-term interest from institutional players.
Traders Watch for Possible Ripple ETF in 2025
Interest in a potential XRP exchange-traded fund is growing. On Polymarket, a popular prediction market, the current odds for a Ripple ETF approval by the end of 2025 stand at 79%. More than $144,000 has been wagered on the outcome so far.
Market watchers are paying close attention to any updates from regulators or Ripple that could affect the odds. ETF speculation is seen as one reason behind the growing interest in XRP-related products.
Moreover, long/short ratios continue to lean bullish. On Binance, the current ratio is 3.16, showing that most traders are still betting on a price increase.
Overall, market positioning points to cautious optimism among participants using regulated and offshore platforms.
