On November 8, 2025, as asset manager 21Shares submitted Form 8(A) to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to launch a Spot XRP Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF).
This formal filing triggers a critical 20-day review window under Section 8(a) of the U.S. Securities Act.
The race for altcoin ETFs
The filing is a significant event for the altcoin market, particularly for XRP, which has been in the spotlight following the regulatory clarity provided by its partial win against the SEC in court.
This move solidifies the trend of institutional investors pushing beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum to embrace other high-market-cap digital assets. The approval of a spot XRP ETF would open the floodgates for large-scale, regulated investment into the token, offering traditional investors easy exposure to a currency valued for its use in cross-border payments.
Regulatory watch
If the SEC does not raise objections within the 20-day window, the ETF could automatically become effective, a scenario that would drastically accelerate the acceptance of other altcoin ETFs currently awaiting review. Analysts view this as a potential “tipping point” that confirms the maturation of the digital asset market within the U.S. financial system.
This filing underscores that regulatory compliance is the final frontier for unlocking massive, institutional capital, making the SEC’s next move highly anticipated.