XRP’s Open Interest Hits $4B : A Strong Market Signal ?

The story of Ripple (XRP) is one of a regulatory battle that has kept the entire crypto industry on edge. After years of tug-of-war with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), an unexpected change has just shaken the market: the U.S. regulator has formally acknowledged the ETF applications for XRP and Dogecoin filed by Grayscale. Is it just a simple administrative procedure? Maybe, but for investors, this signal was enough to propel the price of XRP by 20 % in just a few days, with open interest now flirting with 4 billion dollars. Behind this surge, the future of altcoin ETFs is at stake, and traders are closely monitoring the upcoming decisions of regulators.

A wave of optimism following the SEC’s recognition

The SEC’s recognition of the ETF applications for XRP and Dogecoin by Grayscale has instantly triggered euphoria in the market. In a context where ETF applications for altcoins have been systematically rejected in recent years, this decision has been interpreted as a loosening of the regulator’s stance. Eric Balchunas, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, highlights in a post on platform X (formerly Twitter) on February 10, 2025, that “this is a good sign for these altcoins, which until now have been systematically told to withdraw their applications right after filing. This slightly increases our chances of approval.”

Following this announcement, XRP surged by 7 % in one day, leading to a spike in trading volumes and renewed interest from institutional investors. The token saw its market capitalization reach 157.8 billion dollars, consolidating its place among the largest cryptos in the market. This rally is not solely based on short-term speculation; it is part of a bullish trend supported by a change in regulatory dynamics. With Donald Trump in the White House and his promises of a more favorable framework for cryptos, investors anticipate a loosening of restrictions on altcoin ETFs.

XRP at 3 dollars ? The derivatives market sends clear signals

Behind the surge of XRP, a key indicator is catching analysts’ attention: open interest, which measures open positions in the derivatives markets, has soared. Between February 11 and 13, it rose from 3.5 billion to 3.8 billion dollars, indicating a growing strength among investors betting on a continuation of the bullish movement. Increasing open interest generally indicates a fresh injection of capital and a rise in traders’ confidence regarding price movements.

Graphically, XRP shows technical signs of bullish continuation. Its price is moving within a bullish pennant, a strong continuation signal for the trend. The MACD is showing a bullish divergence, suggesting a new impulse towards the key resistance level of 3 dollars. However, in the event of a pullback, the levels to watch are around 2.50 dollars, a critical threshold that could determine whether the rally continues or loses momentum.

The growing interest in altcoin ETFs reflects a profound transformation in the crypto market. While the official approval of XRP and Dogecoin ETFs remains hypothetical, the SEC’s recognition of the applications represents a major turning point. A green light for these products could open the door to massive institutional adoption, similar to what occurred with Bitcoin ETFs. But, not everything is decided yet. Political and regulatory pressures remain a key factor, and the SEC’s upcoming decisions will be closely scrutinized. For now, the crypto market is preparing for a potential wave of altcoin ETFs that could reshape capital flows and consolidate XRP’s position among the essential cryptos.