Stable XRP ETF Inflows Persist Amid Market Turbulence
Despite a volatile December for the broader crypto market, spot XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the United States continued to demonstrate resilience by maintaining inflows over a sustained 29-day period. As of the end of the month, these ETFs accumulated a total net inflow of $8.44 million on Monday alone, bringing their overall inflows to $1.15 billion since launch, with total assets reaching approximately $1.24 billion, even as XRP prices and the larger crypto sector faced selling pressures.
Vincent Liu, Chief Investment Officer at Kronos Research, noted that investments in XRP are largely driven by increasing regulatory clarity and a shift toward less crowded trading strategies compared to Bitcoin or Ethereum. He emphasized that XRP’s unique use case in cross-border settlement solutions “offers differentiated exposure that continues to attract longer-term investors,” supporting the ongoing capital influx despite broader market challenges.
While the recent inflows have slowed from earlier surges that saw daily additions spike from $30 million to over $40 million, XRP ETFs have nonetheless experienced consistent growth throughout December. In total, the funds attracted $478 million during the month, signaling continued investor interest in the token’s potential for leaner, strategic positioning.
December’s Broader ETF Landscape: Bitcoin and Ethereum Under Pressure
In contrast to XRP’s steady inflows, Bitcoin and Ether ETFs experienced significant net outflows during December. Both saw over $1.7 billion in combined withdrawals, with Bitcoin alone losing more than $1.1 billion over the month. The largest single-day redemption occurred on December 15, when investors withdrew $357.7 million. Ethereum-focused ETFs exhibited a similar trend, losing approximately $612 million, with notable withdrawals on December 15 and 16.
Vincent Liu explained that Bitcoin is expected to trade within a broad, range-bound bullish pattern, supported by institutional positioning and macroeconomic factors. Conversely, he suggested that Ether might outperform Bitcoin due to increased network adoption and real-world utility, potentially driving stronger fundamental growth.
Institutional Demand Shows Signs of Cooling
Recent data from Glassnode indicates that the 30-day moving average of net inflows into U.S. Bitcoin and Ether ETFs has remained negative since early November. This trend suggests subdued institutional participation and a general contraction in market liquidity. Despite this, Liu pointed out that Bitcoin ETF outflows over Christmas were likely linked to holiday repositioning and thinner market liquidity, rather than a fundamental decline in demand. He expects institutional activity to normalize as markets reopen in early January, potentially restoring liquidity and confidence.
