Coinbase Launches Regulated XRP Futures as Bullish Momentum Accelerates

XRP is making its way to the heart of Wall Street at a rapid clip as Coinbase launches regulated futures, Ripple acquires prime brokerage power, and institutional momentum prepares to drive mainstream adoption.

Coinbase Launches Regulated XRP Futures, Strengthening Institutional Crypto Access to U.S. Markets

Coinbase Institutional disclosed a major milestone on Monday via social media platform X, confirming that its affiliate Coinbase Derivatives LLC has officially launched CFTC-regulated XRP futures. The announcement marks the completion of a process that began earlier this month when the company filed an application with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to self-certify the product. In a direct statement accompanying the release, the cryptocurrency exchange said:

Coinbase Derivatives LLC now offers CFTC-regulated XRP futures.

These newly launched contracts include a standard version representing 10,000 XRP, and a retail-focused “nano” contract sized at 500 XRP — about $1,000 at current market prices of $2.09. Both are settled in U.S. dollar cash and are designed to provide affordable, capital-efficient trading solutions for both institutional and retail participants. According to Coinbase, the futures are designed to enhance market liquidity and provide strong risk management tools.

Coinbase’s launch of XRP futures comes at a time when regulatory clarity is growing on cryptocurrencies, particularly after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) withdrew its appeal in the Ripple case. Ripple’s $50 million settlement with the SEC removed a significant legal hurdle and bolstered investor confidence in XRP. This momentum supported the launch of Teucrium’s 2x leveraged XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF), marking XRP’s progress in traditional financial markets.

Ripple further expanded its institutional presence with the acquisition of Hidden Road, a prime brokerage firm that handles over $10 billion in daily liquidity, thereby paving the way for XRP’s key role in cross-asset settlements. David Schwartz, Ripple’s CTO, described: “Ripple’s acquisition of Hidden Road is a pivotal moment for XRP Ledger and XRP.” Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple’s CEO, believes that XRP ETF approval is inevitable due to a more favorable regulatory environment and several pending ETF applications, and envisions the crypto asset being included in U.S. cryptocurrency reserves. Meanwhile, Standard Chartered predicts that XRP’s value will surge 500% by 2028, potentially surpassing Ethereum.