XRP ETF Inflows Surge to $64M in Final Week of 2025—Yet Price Remains Stubbornly Below $2
Institutional money pours into XRP as the year closes—but the price action tells a different story.
The ETF Floodgates Crack Open
Forget the whispers—the proof is in the capital. A fresh $64 million stampeded into XRP exchange-traded funds in the last week of December, signaling a vote of confidence from the big players. It's the kind of move that typically screams 'breakout imminent.' Yet, the market's reaction has been a collective shrug.
The $2 Ceiling Holds Firm
Despite the institutional endorsement, XRP's price continues to bump its head against the psychological $2 barrier. It's a classic crypto conundrum: strong fundamentals meet stubborn resistance. The inflows suggest a bet on future regulatory clarity and utility, but traders are still waiting for the spark that turns potential into parabolic gains.
The Institutional vs. Retail Divide
Here's the cynical finance jab: Wall Street's 'smart money' is buying the regulatory narrative and long-term infrastructure play, while the retail crowd is still chasing the memecoin of the week. It's a tale of two strategies—patient capital versus impatient speculation. The ETF flow is a hedge, a calculated position in a still-volatile asset class, not a moon ticket.
The final week of 2025 sets the stage. Massive inflows confirm XRP's seat at the institutional table, but its failure to punch through $2 reveals a market still wrestling with its identity. The money is betting on a future where utility trumps hype. Whether that bet pays off in 2026 is the only question that matters.
XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) ended the final full week of 2025 with strong investor demand, even as the token’s price continued to lag.
According to weekly data, XRP spot ETFs recorded $64 million in net inflows, the highest among major crypto ETFs during the period. By comparison, ethereum spot ETFs saw $102 million in net outflows, while Solana ETFs attracted $13.14 million, with all listed SOL funds posting gains.
Despite the strong inflows, XRP has remained stuck below the $2 mark, raising a question among investors: if so much money is flowing into XRP ETFs, why isn’t the price moving higher?
Why ETF Inflows Don’t Always Mean Instant Price Gains
Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan recently explained how the ETF buying process works behind the scenes.
When an XRP ETF receives inflows, fund managers do not buy tokens directly on public exchanges. Instead, they purchase XRP over the counter (OTC) from large institutional market makers such as Jane Street, Susquehanna, Goldman Sachs, and others.
These firms compete to offer the lowest possible price for large orders. Once a deal is agreed, the market Maker then goes into the broader market to source the XRP and delivers it to the ETF’s custodian.
In simple terms, the buying does impact the spot market, but it happens indirectly and gradually, not through visible exchange orders that immediately push prices higher. This process can reduce short-term price spikes, even during periods of heavy inflows.
Technical Pressure Still Weighs on XRP
While ETF demand remains strong, technical analysts warn that price action is sending mixed signals.
XRP is on track for what could be its first monthly close below a key support level this year. Analysts say the token needs to close above $2.08 by month-end to maintain a bullish structure.
If in doubt… Zoom out.. This will be the first monthly close below this years support.$XRP needs a close above $2.08 by the end of the month to remain positive.
If your bullish you need to re evaluate.
Price action is KING. pic.twitter.com/hLnnmMUe97
“If in doubt, zoom out,” one analyst said, adding that price action remains the final judge of market strength.
