XRP News! SEC Delays Spot Crypto ETF Decisions, Impacting Market Prices

On March 12, 2025, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced a delay in its decision regarding multiple spot cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

The affected ETFs include the VanEck Spot Solana ETF, Canary Spot Solana ETF, Canary Spot XRP ETF, Grayscale Spot XRP ETF, Canary Spot Litecoin ETF, and Grayscale Spot Dogecoin ETF.

This delay has significantly impacted the cryptocurrency market, leading to immediate price fluctuations and heightened trading activity across the involved digital assets.

Market Reaction and Price Movements

Following the SEC's announcement, the market witnessed notable price reactions. Solana (SOL) experienced a 3.4% decline, dropping to $128.75 at 10:15 AM EST.

XRP fell by 2.8% to $0.62 at 10:20 AM EST, while Litecoin (LTC) and Dogecoin (DOGE) also faced downturns, with LTC dropping 1.9% to $89.20 and DOGE falling 1.5% to $0.14 by 10:30 AM EST.

Those price movements highlight the sensitivity of the market to regulatory developments.

Trading volumes surged in response to the announcement. Solana recorded a 25% increase in volume, with 1.3 million SOL traded within the hour. XRP saw a 20% increase to 3.2 million XRP, while Litecoin and Dogecoin experienced volume rises of 15% and 10%, respectively.

This spike in activity suggests increased market engagement, with both retail and institutional investors reacting to the SEC's decision.

Impact on Trading Pairs and Bitcoin

The delay also affected cryptocurrency trading pairs. The SOL/BTC pair dropped 3.2% to 0.0021 BTC at 10:45 AM EST, while XRP/BTC declined by 2.5% to 0.00001 BTC. Similarly, the LTC/BTC pair fell by 1.8% to 0.0015 BTC, and DOGE/BTC saw a 1.3% decrease to 0.0000023 BTC.

Bitcoin itself experienced a slight dip of 0.5%, settling at $62,500 at 11:00 AM EST. These movements indicate the interconnected nature of cryptocurrencies and how regulatory uncertainty can impact broader market dynamics.

Technical Indicators and On-Chain Metrics

Technical analysis reflects a bearish sentiment in the market. Solana’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) dropped to 42 at 11:15 AM EST, nearing oversold territory, which could signal a potential rebound if buying interest returns.

XRP’s RSI fell to 46, while Litecoin and Dogecoin maintained readings of 48 and 50, respectively, indicating neutral stances but a potential for further downward pressure if selling continues.

On-chain metrics also showed increased activity. Solana’s active addresses rose by 10% to 250,000, suggesting heightened user engagement. XRP’s active addresses increased by 8% to 400,000, while Litecoin and Dogecoin saw a rise of 5% and 3%, respectively.

Those figures indicate strong network usage despite price declines, hinting at sustained investor interest.

AI Token Market Stability Amid Regulatory Uncertainty

Interestingly, AI-related cryptocurrencies like SingularityNET (AGIX) and Fetch.AI (FET) remained largely unaffected by the SEC’s decision, with minor price movements of 0.2% and 0.1% respectively at 11:30 AM EST.

The correlation between Bitcoin and AI tokens remains stable at 0.65 over a 24-hour period, suggesting that AI tokens may follow Bitcoin’s trajectory rather than reacting directly to ETF-related market shifts.

Potential BlackRock Entry into the XRP ETF Market

The XRP community has been speculating on whether BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, might enter the XRP ETF market. Legal expert Bill Morgan suggested that BlackRock could leverage the SEC’s delays to file its own XRP ETF application, potentially gaining a competitive edge.

While BlackRock has not officially announced an XRP ETF filing, analysts believe it may wait for a resolution in the ongoing Ripple lawsuit before making a move.

Franklin Templeton Joins the XRP ETF Race

Despite the regulatory delays, financial giant Franklin Templeton has filed an application for a spot XRP ETF. The firm intends to list the ETF on the Cboe BZX Exchange, with Coinbase Custody Trust Company managing asset security.

This move aligns with a broader trend of institutional interest in cryptocurrency ETFs, following in the footsteps of firms like Bitwise, 21Shares, and Grayscale.

Franklin Templeton’s filing suggests growing confidence in XRP’s regulatory future, particularly with the possibility of a more crypto-friendly stance under the Trump administration.

Analysts predict that an XRP ETF approval could occur following a potential settlement in the Ripple lawsuit before April 16, 2025.

XRP Market Outlook and ETF Demand

The prospect of an XRP ETF approval has fueled investor optimism, leading to a 5% price increase in XRP, with open interest surging by 2.28% to $3 billion. The 24-hour liquidation volume also rose to $13.85 million, with over $7 million in short liquidations.

Analysts point to a bullish divergence in XRP’s technical charts, suggesting the potential for a strong upward rally if broader market conditions improve.

The SEC has acknowledged Grayscale’s application for a spot XRP ETF, initiating a 45-day review period. However, the process could extend for up to 240 days, with a final decision potentially arriving by mid-October 2025.

Franklin Templeton’s application joins a growing list of pending XRP ETF filings from major asset managers, including Bitwise, 21Shares, WisdomTree, VanEck, and CoinShares.

The growing demand for XRP ETFs follows the success of spot Bitcoin ETFs, which now manage nearly $100 billion in assets. Ripple Labs CEO Brad Garlinghouse has expressed confidence in XRP ETF approval, citing strong institutional and retail demand.

Despite regulatory uncertainty, major asset managers continue to push for crypto ETF approvals, recognizing their potential to attract institutional investment.

With increasing pressure on the SEC to approve alternative cryptocurrency ETFs, industry experts believe that an XRP ETF could be among the next major approvals, paving the way for broader adoption of altcoin-based investment products.

Conclusion

The SEC’s latest delay in approving spot crypto ETFs has sent ripples through the cryptocurrency market, impacting prices, trading volumes, and investor sentiment.

While Solana, XRP, Litecoin, and Dogecoin experienced immediate declines, growing institutional interest—especially in XRP—suggests a strong long-term outlook for crypto ETFs.

Franklin Templeton’s entry into the XRP ETF race further highlights the expanding role of major financial institutions in the crypto market.

As the SEC continues its review process, investors and traders will closely watch regulatory developments, potential BlackRock moves, and the outcome of the Ripple lawsuit.

The approval of a spot XRP ETF could mark a transformative moment for the market, offering new investment opportunities and reinforcing the legitimacy of digital assets in mainstream finance.