TLDR
- CME’s XRP futures have surpassed $1 billion in open interest, setting a new record.
- The growth in XRP futures follows a surge in contract numbers, showing increasing demand.
- CME’s total cryptocurrency futures open interest has exceeded $30 billion for the first time.
- XRP’s price has been struggling amid a broader market correction, with a recent drop below $2.90.
- Whale activity in XRP has increased, with large holders now owning 10.6% of the total supply.
CME Group’s XRP futures have achieved a remarkable milestone, surpassing $1 billion in open interest (OI). This achievement marks a significant moment for the Chicago-based trading giant, just months after launching these futures in May. The surge follows record high contract numbers, signaling a growing demand for XRP futures.
CME’s Record-Breaking XRP Futures Activity
XRP futures have made history by becoming the fastest product to reach $1 billion in open interest. This comes shortly after CME launched Solana-based futures. The growing interest in XRP futures highlights a significant development in the cryptocurrency futures market, which is becoming increasingly attractive to institutional investors.
Our Crypto futures suite just surpassed $30B in notional open interest for the first time ever. 💥
Our SOL and XRP futures, along with ETH options, each crossed $1B in OI, with XRP being the fastest-ever contract to do so, hitting the mark in just over 3 months.🔥
This is a… pic.twitter.com/xXV9TyP61O
— CME Group (@CMEGroup) August 25, 2025
In addition to the impressive milestone in XRP futures, CME’s cryptocurrency futures as a whole have surpassed a total of $30 billion in open interest. Bitcoin and Ethereum, the two most prominent cryptocurrencies, currently account for $16 billion and $10.5 billion of this total, respectively. CME’s long-standing presence in the crypto futures market, beginning with Bitcoin in late 2017, solidifies its position as a key player.
According to CME, the surge in XRP futures open interest “marks a huge sign” of market maturity. This record comes at a time when the broader cryptocurrency market is experiencing corrections. Despite this, the rising interest in XRP futures offers a strong indication that institutional participation in the crypto market is growing.
XRP Price Struggles Amid Market Correction
While XRP futures gain attention, the token itself continues to face price struggles. XRP’s price recently dipped below the $2.90 level and hit an intraday low of $2.84. The token is currently down more than 2% in the past 24 hours, indicating ongoing volatility amid the broader market downturn.
Crypto analyst Man of Bitcoin explained that XRP’s immediate price drop was “invalidated,” pointing to potential stability. However, a diagonal formation is emerging, with key price levels between $2.97 and $2.84. These levels could play a critical role in determining whether the current trend continues or if a reversal is likely.
$XRP price has invalidated the direct move to the downside. However, a diagonal pattern is still on the table.
Support to keep the yellow scenario alive is between $2.97 and $2.84. pic.twitter.com/iXBQIxzjkW— Man of Bitcoin (@Manofbitcoin) August 24, 2025
Technical indicators, such as the MACD and Relative Strength Index (RSI), show a mixed outlook. The MACD lines have moved into the negative zone, while the RSI sits at 47, suggesting the potential for an oversold condition. However, the neutral sentiment leaves room for optimism that bulls could regain market control.
XRP Futures Show Strong Whale Activity
Whale activity in XRP has also seen a notable increase, according to data from Santiment. Addresses holding between 1 million and 10 million XRP now account for approximately 10.6% of the total supply, up from 9.8% in early July. This accumulation trend points to growing confidence among large holders, which could support a medium to long-term bullish outlook for XRP.
As more institutional investors show interest in XRP futures, the market’s development continues to shift. The increasing role of whales in the XRP market might lead to a more stable and bullish environment if conditions improve. In the meantime, XRP futures remain a focal point for traders and investors alike, as market maturity strengthens.
