Ripple and XRP Ledger Explore Staking Amid Growing Investor Interest
Ripple’s XRP Ledger is reportedly considering a strategic shift toward native staking, following calls from the community to make the platform more compatible with DeFi protocols. While Ripple hasn’t shared official timelines or technical details yet, discussions suggest the move could expand XRP beyond its traditional role in payments.
The shift comes as XRP sees growing institutional interest. Canary Capital recently launched the XRPC ETF, one of the first ETFs focused on XRP, which traded $58 million on its first day—slightly surpassing last month’s Bitwise BSOL ETF. Within the first 30 minutes, $26 million was exchanged, and by mid-morning, trading had passed $36 million, including activity on Robinhood.
XRPC is a physical spot ETF that holds XRP and tracks its price using the CME CF XRP-USD Reference Rate. The fund charges a 0.50% annual fee and uses Gemini Trust and BitGo Trust for custody. Canary Capital positions the ETF as an easy way for institutions to access XRP without managing wallets or custody.
Market observers note that demand for payment-linked tokens is rising. Canary’s previous HBAR ETF raised $70 million in its first week, highlighting growing interest in tokens with real-world utility.
At last check, XRP was trading around $2.10, down 5.4% for the day, even as ETFs and staking discussions signal new potential for growth.
