Jake Claver, chairman of Digital Ascension Group, expects BlackRock to file for an exchange-traded fund tied to XRP. He also said the asset manager is looking to integrate the XRP Ledger into its tokenization initiative.
What Claver is predicting
Claver didn't lay out a timeline for the filing. But he pointed to BlackRock's recent moves in the crypto space — including its spot Bitcoin ETF — as a sign that the firm is ready to expand further. If BlackRock does file, it would mark the first major push for an XRP ETF from a Wall Street heavyweight.
The XRP Ledger is the blockchain behind the XRP token. BlackRock's tokenization initiative, which already runs on Ethereum, could get a second home on XRP's network. That would open up new use cases for the ledger, especially around real-world asset tokenization.
Why an XRP ETF matters
A BlackRock-backed XRP ETF would give mainstream investors a regulated way to gain exposure to XRP without buying the token directly. That kind of product tends to attract institutional money — and it can push prices higher. The SEC has been cautious about approving crypto ETFs beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum, but BlackRock's track record could shift the conversation.
XRP has been tangled in legal battles for years. The SEC sued Ripple, the company most associated with XRP, in 2020 over whether the token was an unregistered security. A federal judge ruled in July 2023 that XRP wasn't a security when sold on exchanges — a partial win that cleared some regulatory fog. Still, the case isn't fully resolved, and the SEC is appealing parts of the ruling.
Claver's prediction suggests that regulatory uncertainty may no longer be a dealbreaker for BlackRock. The firm has shown it's willing to push into crypto even when the legal landscape is messy.
BlackRock hasn't confirmed any plans for an XRP ETF or a XRP Ledger integration. The company rarely comments on rumors or speculation. That leaves the crypto community watching for any filing with the SEC — or any public statement from BlackRock about its tokenization roadmap.
If Claver is right, the next few months could bring a formal application. If he's wrong, it's a reminder that even insiders make guesses. Either way, the possibility alone has traders and developers paying closer attention to XRP.
