- Bitnomial launched the first-ever CFTC-regulated XRP futures product in the US with physical settlement.
- Ripple indirectly backs Bitnomial’s move while holding 42% of XRP’s total supply.
Bitnomial is officially publishing the first XRP futures product regulated directly by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). This is not only a matter of legality but also an indication that XRP is starting to gain a new foothold in the derivatives space that has so far been dominated by Bitcoin and Ethereum.
🚀And We’re Live 🚀
Bitnomial’s physically settled XRP/USD futures are now trading. Trade with real asset delivery, stronger price discovery, and full CFTC regulatory compliance.
Contract Specs and More: https://t.co/5medLQuC3C
Read: https://t.co/4prl7nCsIG pic.twitter.com/NahTjw8rtB
— Bitnomial (@Bitnomial) March 20, 2025
What makes this product even more interesting is the settlement method: not in the form of cash, but direct delivery of XRP tokens. So when it matures, what you get is real XRP. You can imagine it’s like buying a rice contract, but in the end you really get a sack of rice, not just the exchange rate.
Bitnomial’s Legal Fight Ends, Futures Path Clears
Bitnomial had a battle with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding the intended introduction of this product in past times.
In October 2024 they even brought a lawsuit. But Bitnomial dropped the lawsuit right away when the SEC decided to withdraw from its legal action against Ripple. Maybe because they felt that the fight didn’t need to be continued, or maybe because the wind had started to blow in a friendlier direction.
For traders, this phase also offered new hope. Since XRP can now be obtained via well-regulated futures contracts. This means that both institutional and personal investors can start to play with precise rules, therefore transcending mere luck or depending merely on market sentiment.
Ripple Funds the Future While Defending Its Past
Looking back, Bitnomial has been getting ready for this long ago. CNF reported last October that they launched Botanical in the US, a perpetual futures platform. Fascinatingly, $25 million was donated to this endeavor; Ripple itself was the one spearheading the financing. Therefore, Ripple is still pounding the drum behind the scenes even if the moniker is not Ripple Futures.
Moreover, Ripple’s sales approach has lately attracted discussion not only in legal issues but also in other spaces. The CEO of Ripple, Brad Garlinghouse, was questioned on the too frequent and excessive XRP sales.
“We get criticized for having too much XRP, but we also get criticized for selling it,” he answered with a somewhat annoyed tone. It is a mixed bag. One thing is obvious, though: Ripple still holds for roughly 42% of all XRP available.
XRP ETF Hopes Rise Amid Legal Resolutions
Among all this dynamism, a more motivating signal has surfaced. Brad Garlinghouse discussed the prospect of an XRP ETF opening before the end of the year when CNF earlier reported that the SEC withdrew from its complaint. Though the exact date is unknown, the statement sufficiently raised market expectations.
Fascinatingly, he also highlighted the prospect of Ripple going IPO, but he quickly pointed out that right now it is not a primary concern. It could be that Ripple still wants to see how much space is available after all its legal matters are completely resolved.
Meanwhile, as of the writing time, XRP is trading at about $2.39, down 2.26% over the last 24 hours and still in sideways over the last 30 days.
