XRP News Today: XRP Debuts on CME as Whale Activity Rises—Is XRP’s Rally Just Getting Started?

In a significant development for the Ripple crypto ecosystem, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) officially launched XRP futures on May 19.

This move makes XRP the first U.S.-regulated altcoin, after Bitcoin and Ethereum—to be traded on the CME derivatives platform. The contracts are cash-settled and priced off a daily reference rate, with sizes of 2,500 and 50,000 XRP.

CME Launch Marks Major Milestone for Ripple XRP

ETF Store President Nate Geraci commented on the development, stating, “CME-traded XRP futures are now live. CFTC-regulated contracts on XRP. Spot XRP ETFs [are] only a matter of time.” This suggests the growing institutional framework around Ripple XRP could support future products like spot XRP ETFs, which are currently under SEC review.

CME executive Tim McCourt highlighted XRP’s “really strong” use case during an interview with trading veteran Anthony Crudele. Source: Xaif via X

The launch places XRP alongside major cryptocurrencies already available on CME—Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana—cementing its role in the institutional crypto market. While XRP price dropped 3.45% on launch day, analysts view the move as a long-term bullish signal for the XRP market.

Mixed Market Signals as Whale Activity Intensifies

While the XRP futures market heats up, on-chain signals depict a more complex picture of XRP valuation and market sentiment. Over the past week, 10 million to 100 million XRP holders accumulated assets with over 12.1% of the circulating supply now in their hands. That’s an increase from 11.58% in April that depicts enhanced whale faith in XRP’s long-term prospects.

A whale purchased nearly 250 million XRP, worth over $500 million, without triggering any noticeable price movement, raising questions about market dynamics. Source: Stellar Expert via X

At the same time, XRP exchange reserves increased from 2.7 billion to 2.9 billion XRP on Binance, according to CryptoQuant. This is typically an indication of growing selling pressure, as traders typically send money to exchanges when they intend to sell their assets. However, the overall sentiment in the market is cautiously upbeat.

Its present trading volume is $4.63 billion, while its open interest in futures has climbed to $4.94 billion, indicative of increasing market participation. This could add more impetus to the momentum and push XRP towards the key psychological level of $3.00.

Technicals Paint a Tug-of-War Scenario

Technically, XRP is both showing its capacity for a bull run as well as short-term vulnerability. With its current trading value of approximately $2.44, the Ripple currency price has formed a higher low trend supported by optimistic moving averages. Indicators like the Relative Strength Index (RSI) show light bullish bias but yet remain below the overbought threshold.

XRP’s weekly RSI has formed a bullish crossover, signaling potential upward momentum. Source: Whale Satoshi via X

Of interest, the XRP/BTC pair has formed a golden cross on the weekly chart for the first time since 2017, as the 50-week moving average has crossed over the 200-week average. Historically, this type of formation preceded a 1,000% climb that pushed XRP to its all-time high of $3.40 in January of 2018.

Yet, there are still some caution signs. A double top at the level of about $2.65 and recent failure from a rising wedge setup signal a possible short-term correction to $1.94. XRP is also near an important level of support at $2.00–$2.04, where some about $50 million of leveraged long positions are vulnerable to liquidation with further decline in price.

Investor Sentiment and XRP Lawsuit Shadow

According to Glassnode’s Net Unrealized Profit/Loss (NUPL) metric, XRP investors are observed to have entered the “denial” stage—a stage usually experienced prior to price corrections. This has held true for past sell-offs in 2018 and 2021 and is putting a cloud over short-term XRP price prediction models.

XRP was trading at around $2.37 at press time. Source: Source: XRP Liquid Index (XRPLX) via Brave New Coin

In the meantime, the XRP lawsuit against the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is still an outstanding factor. While the Ripple lawsuit has progressed through significant milestones, with mixed victories for Ripple Labs, regulatory uncertainty continues to cloud the path to broader acceptance and the greenlighting of spot ETFs.

The XRP SEC legal saga has stirred global interest, especially with Ripple seeking to expand its financial partnerships, including its much-criticized deal with Bank of America. While Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has in the past hinted at strategic agreements post-lawsuit, concrete outcomes are speculative.

Outlook: Is XRP’s Rally Over or Just Heating Up?

Despite short-term volatility and mixed signals, XRP’s long-term outlook retains bullish elements. With key technical patterns forming, growing institutional support via CME futures, and whale accumulation on the rise, many in the market remain optimistic.

Analysts maintain price projections ranging from $3.69 to as high as $17, based on symmetrical triangle breakouts and historical trends. However, to sustain upward momentum, XRP must clear immediate resistance levels and navigate near-term risks, including broader market corrections and ongoing regulatory pressures.

In conclusion, while the road ahead for XRP may be bumpy, the combination of increasing institutional exposure, whale confidence, and technical support suggests that the rally may not be over yet. As always, investors are advised to watch closely, especially in light of Ripple XRP news and further XRP lawsuit updates from the SEC.