XRP News Today: First U.S. XRP ETF Launches Sept. 18, CME to Add XRP and Solana Options in October

Key Takeaways:REX-Osprey will debut the first U.S.-listed ETFs tied to XRP and Dogecoin (DOGE) on Sept. 18.CME Group will launch options on XRP and Solana (SOL) futures on Oct. 13, pending regulatory approval.The moves mark a broadening of crypto access points in both securities and derivatives markets.First XRP and DOGE ETFs to Trade in the U.S.The first U.S.-listed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tied to XRP and Dogecoin will launch Sept. 18 on the Cboe BZX Exchange, under the tickers XRPR (XRP) and DOJE (Dogecoin).The products, developed by REX Shares and Osprey Funds, are structured to hold XRP and DOGE directly, while also investing in overseas spot ETFs to strengthen exposure. Their filings also allow for limited use of derivatives, though this is not the primary design.Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart noted that while these are not “pure spot” products, they represent a milestone: the first time U.S. brokerage accounts will gain ETF access to XRP and DOGE, expanding beyond the Bitcoin and Ether-focused products that dominate the U.S. market.At the time of writing, XRP traded around $3.02, down about 1% over the past 24 hours, according to CoinDesk data.CME to Launch XRP and Solana Options in OctoberJust weeks after the ETF debut, CME Group — the world’s largest derivatives marketplace — plans to introduce options on XRP and Solana (SOL) futures on Oct. 13, subject to regulatory review.The contracts will be listed across standard and micro-sized futures with daily, monthly, and quarterly expiries, expanding CME’s crypto derivatives offering beyond Bitcoin and Ether for the first time.“Significant growth and increasing liquidity in Solana and XRP futures have created strong demand for new hedging and trading tools,” said Giovanni Vicioso, CME’s global head of cryptocurrency products.Record Growth in SOL and XRP FuturesBoth tokens have seen strong derivatives activity since their launches earlier this year:Solana futures (launched March 2025): Over 540,000 contracts ($22.3B notional) traded, with August hitting a record 9,000 contracts per day.XRP futures (launched May 2025): More than 370,000 contracts ($16.2B notional) traded, with August open interest reaching a record $942M.Market makers including Cumberland and FalconX welcomed the expansion, citing the need for broader hedging tools beyond BTC and ETH.Expanding U.S. Crypto Market AccessThe launches highlight growing appetite for regulated altcoin products in the U.S. market.Coinbase rolled out Solana futures earlier this year and acquired crypto options exchange Deribit.Kraken launched a U.S. derivatives arm in July.Robinhood now offers micro futures on BTC, SOL, and XRP.With spot ETFs and regulated futures options rolling out, XRP and Solana are gaining a stronger foothold in U.S. capital markets. Global crypto derivatives open interest sits near $4 billion, with CME’s new listings expected to accelerate institutional participation.