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The first US leveraged XRP ETF, Teucrium’s 2x Long Daily XRP ETF, was off to a strong start with around $5 million in day-one trading volume — a figure that places it in the top 5% of all new ETF launches, according to Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas. The fund, trading under the ticker XXRP, drew roughly four times the debut activity of Volatility Shares’ 2x Solana ETF (SOLT), Balchunas noted. The SOLT fund launched on March 20 alongside the Volatility Shares Solana ETF (SOLZ) as one of the first Solana futures ETFs in the US. The 2x Long Daily XRP ETF , launched by Teucrium Investment Advisors on April 8, aims to offer double the daily returns of XRP using swap agreements. Reference rates for the swaps now include several European Exchange Traded Products due to the absence of suitable US-listed spot XRP ETFs. The company, known for its commodity ETFs, is expanding its crypto offerings, following its previous Bitcoin futures ETF launch. The leveraged ETF is Teucrium’s most successful ETF launch to date, said Sal Gilbertie, CEO of Teucrium, in a Tuesday interview with Crypto Prime’s Nate Geraci. “It’s been a terrific, very successful launch — our most successful launch day to date for any fund we’ve ever done,” said Gilbertie. “There was overwhelming excitement… I think a lot because we were overlooked.” Teucrium filed for the product shortly after the previous SEC administration stepped down, and with the standard 75-day window having elapsed, the fund launched at the first available opportunity. “We filed as soon as we could after the old SEC regime left… we launched today,” Gilbertie said. “I think it’s almost at a couple hundred thousand shares.” The ETF currently gains exposure to XRP through swaps based on European XRP ETPs, though it has the flexibility to hold other XRP-linked instruments, including futures when available, to optimize efficiency and costs. Importantly, the product is not designed for buy-and-hold investors, Gilbertie added. “This is absolutely a short-term trading tool — ideally for one day,” Gilbertie said. “Because of the reset and the math… if that asset goes up very slowly or sideways or down, you will lose money.” Still, for aggressive traders, the appeal is there. “It’s pretty hard to get leverage [on XRP], and these 2X products… make it easy,” he said. “Ordinary people with their Robinhood account can sit there and trade one share with leverage.” The launch comes amid what Gilbertie describes as a more crypto-friendly regulatory environment. “Prior to the new SEC, the old SEC was an impediment. They crushed innovation, they were an enemy of cryptocurrencies,” he said, noting that under new leadership, the review process for XXRP was relatively smooth. “They didn’t look for an impediment… they simply made sure that we were adhering to the rules and regulations,” he said. Teucrium, which manages about $320 million across 12 ETFs, has already filed for an inverse XRP ETF called the Teucrium 2x Short Daily XRP ETF, according to its prospectus materials . Leveraged inverse ETFs would allow investors to potentially profit as XRP prices decline. However, Gilbertie said the firm is holding off on launching until it gauges investors’ appetite. Teucrium also left the door open to future crypto-related products. “We’re an ETF company… we’re willing to do any ETF that we think is going to provide an extra tool for investors,” he said. On crypto’s broader role in a portfolio, Gilbertie drew a clear distinction between Bitcoin and other assets. “I think there’s Bitcoin and there’s everything else,” he said. “Bitcoin is digital gold — it should be in your portfolio to stabilize it.” As for assets like XRP, Ether, or Solana, he said they resemble technology platforms. “They’re systems, they’re technological systems… they should be priced like technology,” he said. “And when Ripple goes public… my guess is they’re going to be valued as technology stocks.”

$XRP Ripple's Acquisition of Hidden Road: A Game-Changer for XRP Ledger Ripple's recent $1.25 billion purchase of prime broker Hidden Road marks a significant milestone for the blockchain payments giant. David Schwartz, Ripple's chief technology officer, believes this move will open up new possibilities for the XRP Ledger among institutional clients. Hidden Road, known for its prime brokerage and credit network serving over 300 institutional customers, processes billions of dollars and millions of transactions daily. Schwartz envisions a future where some of this activity will transition to the XRP Ledger, along with the tokenization of real-world assets. Despite limited tokenization on the XRP Ledger so far, industry experts predict a multi-trillion-dollar market for tokenized assets by 2030. Major companies like CME Group and Google are already exploring asset tokenization, indicating a growing trend towards digital securities. With regulatory conditions in the US becoming more favorable, the stage is set for tokenization to flourish, potentially revolutionizing capital markets.

The cryptocurrency market is reeling from a sharp decline, with major coins shedding significant value in just a few days. As Bitcoin dropped below $76,000 and global crypto market capitalization plunged by over 10% to $2.52 trillion, investors are left wondering—is this a temporary dip or the start of a deeper correction? Larry Fink, the CEO of the world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock, has weighed in on the broader market turmoil. In a recent interview, Fink warned that equity markets could still fall by another 20%, suggesting the U.S. may already be in a recession. This cautionary outlook reverberated through financial circles, casting a shadow over both traditional and crypto markets. While Fink did mention this might be a buying opportunity for some, his overall tone suggests caution. Factors such as mounting trade tariffs, tightening liquidity, and uncertain macroeconomic conditions could push risk-on assets like cryptocurrencies even lower. The current market downturn hit both large and mid-cap cryptocurrencies. Among the top 20 tokens, the biggest losers included : Even Bitcoin and Ethereum weren't spared, falling over 7% and 6% respectively, dragging the entire market sentiment with them. Whether the crypto market recovers soon depends on several macro and internal market factors: If the U.S. economy is indeed entering or already in a recession, as Fink suggests, we could see further downside across all asset classes. Cryptocurrencies, which are considered high-risk investments, typically suffer first in such scenarios. Ongoing scrutiny from regulators worldwide is contributing to investor uncertainty. Any aggressive moves—especially from U.S. institutions—could delay recovery. Bitcoin’s next halving, expected in 2028, is historically followed by bull runs. However, with current uncertainty, the usual cycle dynamics might take longer to play out. Retail investors are showing signs of panic-selling, while institutions remain cautiously observant. If institutional players view this as a discounted entry point, it could stabilize the market and even prompt a recovery. Market sentiment rebounds as inflation stabilizes and investor confidence grows. Altcoins recover , and Bitcoin regains traction above $80,000 , leading a slow but steady recovery phase. The market remains in a consolidation range, with minimal volatility. Prices hover near current levels as investors wait for clearer signals from the Fed or broader economic indicators. Worsening macroeconomic data and further Fed tightening could lead to another crash, possibly matching Fink’s predicted 20% drop in traditional assets—which may correlate with another 10–15% drop in crypto markets. The current crypto crash is a stark reminder of the market's volatility. With Larry Fink’s warning about a broader market recession and a possible 20% drop, investors must tread carefully. While some may see this as a prime buying opportunity, others may prefer to wait for further clarity. One thing is clear: 2025 will be a defining year for crypto markets, shaped by macroeconomic shifts, institutional behavior, and global regulations. The cryptocurrency market is reeling from a sharp decline, with major coins shedding significant value in just a few days. As Bitcoin dropped below $76,000 and global crypto market capitalization plunged by over 10% to $2.52 trillion, investors are left wondering—is this a temporary dip or the start of a deeper correction? Larry Fink, the CEO of the world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock, has weighed in on the broader market turmoil. In a recent interview, Fink warned that equity markets could still fall by another 20%, suggesting the U.S. may already be in a recession. This cautionary outlook reverberated through financial circles, casting a shadow over both traditional and crypto markets. While Fink did mention this might be a buying opportunity for some, his overall tone suggests caution. Factors such as mounting trade tariffs, tightening liquidity, and uncertain macroeconomic conditions could push risk-on assets like cryptocurrencies even lower. The current market downturn hit both large and mid-cap cryptocurrencies. Among the top 20 tokens, the biggest losers included : Even Bitcoin and Ethereum weren't spared, falling over 7% and 6% respectively, dragging the entire market sentiment with them. Whether the crypto market recovers soon depends on several macro and internal market factors: If the U.S. economy is indeed entering or already in a recession, as Fink suggests, we could see further downside across all asset classes. Cryptocurrencies, which are considered high-risk investments, typically suffer first in such scenarios. Ongoing scrutiny from regulators worldwide is contributing to investor uncertainty. Any aggressive moves—especially from U.S. institutions—could delay recovery. Bitcoin’s next halving, expected in 2028, is historically followed by bull runs. However, with current uncertainty, the usual cycle dynamics might take longer to play out. Retail investors are showing signs of panic-selling, while institutions remain cautiously observant. If institutional players view this as a discounted entry point, it could stabilize the market and even prompt a recovery. Market sentiment rebounds as inflation stabilizes and investor confidence grows. Altcoins recover , and Bitcoin regains traction above $80,000 , leading a slow but steady recovery phase. The market remains in a consolidation range, with minimal volatility. Prices hover near current levels as investors wait for clearer signals from the Fed or broader economic indicators. Worsening macroeconomic data and further Fed tightening could lead to another crash, possibly matching Fink’s predicted 20% drop in traditional assets—which may correlate with another 10–15% drop in crypto markets. The current crypto crash is a stark reminder of the market's volatility. With Larry Fink’s warning about a broader market recession and a possible 20% drop, investors must tread carefully. While some may see this as a prime buying opportunity, others may prefer to wait for further clarity. One thing is clear: 2025 will be a defining year for crypto markets, shaped by macroeconomic shifts, institutional behavior, and global regulations.

BREAKING: Ripple says it agreed to acquire prime broker Hidden Road for $1.25 billion

Ripple is acquiring Hidden Road in a $1.25 billion deal, marking the second billion-dollar-plus acquisition involving a crypto company this year—following FTX’s $1 billion purchase of BlockFi. Ripple ( XRP ) is acquiring prime brokerage firm Hidden Road for $1.25 billion as part of its strategy to attract more institutional investors through a wider range of services. The deal will be primarily cash-based, along with a portion paid in XRP and Ripple stock. Marc Asch, the founder of Hidden Road, will continue to lead the brokerage under Ripple. “Ripple needs to make sure we have the infrastructure in place to appeal and expand to a larger segment of the biggest bulge bracket institutions,” CEO Brad Garlinghouse told Fortune. Garlinghouse told CNBC that he anticipates the deal will be finalized by the third quarter of 2025 at the latest. Brad Garlinghouse explained that the acquisition came about after Hidden Road faced growth challenges due to balance sheet constraints and began seeking external capital to scale. As part of the acquisition, Hidden Road will integrate Ripple’s stablecoin , RLUSD, into its offerings and may also utilize the XRP blockchain for more efficient transaction settlements. Ripple plans to invest billions into Hidden Road to scale its operations and meet the growing demand for prime brokerage services in the crypto market. Founded in 2018 by Marc Asch, Hidden Road has quickly become a major player in the crypto prime brokerage space, competing with the likes of FalconX and Coinbase Prime. The firm reported $3 trillion in fund transfers in 2024. Previously, it raised $50 million in a Series A funding round backed by Castle Island Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, and Citadel Securities.