Volatility Shares to launch first 1x XRP futures ETF in U.S.

On Thursday, May 22, Volatility Shares will introduce the first 1x XRP futures ETF in the U.S. under the ticker XRPI, providing investors with a new, less risky way to track XRP price movements.

This ETF is the first non-leveraged XRP futures fund in the U.S. and will trade on the Nasdaq. Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas confirmed the news on May 21, posting on X that the fund follows the success of a leveraged 2x XRP (XRP) ETF already on the market.

The Teucrium-managed 2x product has amassed approximately $120 million in assets and trades about $35 million daily, indicating a growing demand for ETFs linked to XRP. 

The new XRPI ETF, in contrast to the 2x version, will seek to replicate the performance of XRP futures one-to-one, making it more appropriate for institutional and retail investors seeking exposure to XRP without the additional risks associated with leverage.

Volatility Shares will serve as the investment adviser, and the fund will charge a management fee of 1.15%, though this will be reduced to 0.94% through May 2026 under a fee waiver agreement.

The XRPI fund will primarily invest in cash-settled XRP futures contracts via a Cayman Islands subsidiary and will allocate at least 80% of its assets to XRP-linked financial instruments. 

This launch comes as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission continues to delay decisions on several spot XRP ETF proposals, including applications from 21Shares and Franklin Templeton. A response is expected by June 17.

Demand for XRP exposure is also rising on other platforms. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange launched XRP futures on May 19, and $19 million was traded on their first day of trading. 

As of this writing, XRP is trading just above $2.35, indicating a mixed picture according to technical indicators. The asset appears to be forming a bullish flag, which is typically a continuation pattern, even though confirmation is required.

At 54, the relative strength index indicates neutral momentum. The majority of moving averages, including the 20, 50, 100, and 200-day EMAs, exhibit bullish signals, with XRP prices trading above these averages. The moving average convergence divergence, however, suggests that there may be short-term selling pressure.

If XRP stays above $2.35 and breaks above $2.50, it may resume its upward trajectory and target the $2.70–$2.80 range, supported by strong EMA alignment and sentiment fueled by ETFs. XRP may retest the $2.20–$2.25 range if it breaks below the $2.35 support. If selling pressure rises, it may fall even further toward the 100-day EMA close at $2.06.