Ripple’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, recently noted that XRP’s spot ETF crossed $1 billion in assets under management only weeks after its launch. This places it among the quickest crypto funds in US history to reach that benchmark, second only to Ethereum.
Garlinghouse argues that this demand reflects a new wave of mainstream, regulated investors entering the cryptocurrency space. He believes that access through firms like Vanguard is opening crypto to non-technical users, moving beyond the typical crypto bubble traders.
To him, this milestone reflects more than speculative hype. Coordinated institutional access is finally making crypto investable for ordinary retirement savers. Asset managers such as Vanguard now allow traditional account holders to buy exposure, opening the door to millions who would never set up a wallet or visit an exchange.
A Different Kind of Investor Is Entering
Garlinghouse argued that the investors arriving today aren’t chasing meme cycles or gambling on new chains. Instead, they are looking at factors that conventional portfolio builders care about: longevity, network reliability, governance maturity, and community resilience.
He framed XRP’s ETF performance as early evidence that this group is prioritizing credibility rather than hype—something he believes will reshape which assets survive the next phase of adoption.
But The Chart Tells a Different Short-Term Story
Despite the strong ETF flows, the XRP/USDT 4-hour chart paints a picture of hesitation. The price is stuck near $2.08, carving a sideways structure after a multi-week downtrend.
Momentum indicators reflect that same limbo. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is hovering just above neutral territory around 52—neither bullish exhaustion nor bearish pressure. The moving average beneath it suggests momentum is trying to curl higher but hasn’t yet confirmed trend acceleration. Volume remains subdued, implying traders are waiting for a catalyst rather than positioning aggressively.
The pattern resembles a coiled consolidation: the price has printed lower highs since late October, but increasingly shallow sell-offs hint at accumulation rather than capitulation.
A Breakout? Only If Catalysts Arrive
Given the ETF flows, Garlinghouse’s confidence, and the neutral-to-improving RSI, a case can be made for upside if buyers step in. Traders may look for a sustained close above $2.20–$2.25 to break the stall—the region that capped several attempts in late November.
If that happens, liquidity gaps toward $2.40–$2.50 could reopen quickly, especially if ETF inflows accelerate or macro sentiment improves.
On the downside, failure to break resistance may keep XRP boxed into its current range, with $1.95–$2.00 acting as psychological support. Weak volume suggests neither side has dominance—yet.
Big Picture: Fundamentals Say “Up,” Price Says “Prove It”
Garlinghouse sees XRP’s ETF adoption as proof that mainstream participants are entering crypto in size—an evolution he believes favors older, sturdier networks. The chart, however, shows that investors want confirmation before chasing higher levels.
Whether ETF enthusiasm spills into price action may depend on risk appetite broader than Ripple alone: the Federal Reserve narrative, January flows, and sentiment across major cryptocurrencies could all play roles.
For now, XRP sits at a crossroads—supported by long-term belief but waiting for short-term commitment.