XRP News Today: XRP Awaits SEC Settlement and ETF Nod as BTC Targets $100k

SEC Enters New Era with XRP-Spot ETFs in Focus

SEC Chair Paul Atkins marked a pivotal moment for the agency on Tuesday, April 22. Crypto America host and journalist Eleanor Terrett commented:

“SEC Chair Paul Atkins says he will work to protect investors from fraud, keep politics out of securities laws and provide a firm regulatory foundation for digital assets. He says the SEC will work to ensure that the U.S. is the best and most secure place in the world to invest and do business. Atkins also mentioned US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent administered the oath in his second swearing-in ceremony today.”

Markets expect Chair Atkins to end the Ripple case and reach a settlement on Judge Analisa Torres’ final judgment. A settlement and the SEC’s appeal withdrawal would likely fast-track the approval of US XRP-spot ETFs, potentially sending XRP to record highs.

Bloomberg Intelligence Senior ETF Analyst Eric Balchunas shared the current list of pending crypto-spot ETF applications, stating:

“There are now 72 crypto-related ETFs sitting with the SEC awaiting approval to list or list options. Everything from XRP, Litecoin, and Solana to Penguins, DOGE, and 2x Melania and everything in between. Gonna be a wild year.”

The prominence of XRP-related filings suggests a bullish price outlook.

XRP Outlook: Legal Overhangs, ETF Momentum

XRP rallied 6.08% on Tuesday, April 22, following Monday’s 0.39% gain. It closed at $2.2123. The token tracked the broader crypto market, which gained 6.58%, taking the total crypto market cap to $2.87 trillion. XRP briefly touched a 25-day high of $2.2502 before retreating.

Looking ahead, Several developments could influence XRP’s trajectory:

• A finalized Ripple settlement may propel the token toward its all-time high of $3.5505.
• Progress on ETF approvals could attract institutional capital, while prolonged delays may dampen sentiment.
• Broader macroeconomic factors—including Fed policy and geopolitical risks—will remain critical, with downside risks toward $1.70 and upside potential near $3.00.

See our full XRP forecast here.

Bitcoin Breaks $90,000 on Trade War De-Escalation

XRP’s gains coincided with bitcoin (BTC) breaking above $90,000 for the first time since March 7. A de-escalation in the US-China trade war boosted demand for riskier assets, including BTC and the broader crypto market.

President Trump reportedly U-turned on his hardline stance on China. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also signaled a shift in policy, saying that the trade war with China was unsustainable and suggesting a deal was feasible despite stalled negotiations.

Since President Trump’s 2025 inauguration, BTC had previously fallen from a January 20 record high of $109,312 to a March 7 low of $74,394 on tariffs and escalation in the US-China trade war. Renewed hopes for a deal now support the case for a price rebound.

US BTC-Spot ETF Inflows Reflect Bullish Sentiment

US BTC-spot ETF inflows on April 22 reflected renewed market optimism. According to Farside Investors, key flow trends included:

• ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) saw net inflows of $267 million.
• Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) had net inflows of $253.8 million.
• Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB) reported net inflows of $76.7 million.
• Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) and Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust (BTC) saw combined net inflows of $86.2 million.
• Excluding pending flow data for BlackRock’s (BLK) iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), the US BTC-spot ETF market recorded $719.2 million in net inflows after $381.3 million in inflows on April 21.

President Trump also quelled concerns about Fed independence on Tuesday, saying he had ‘no intention’ to fire Fed Chair Powell.

Markets responded positively to the developments. The Nasdaq Composite Index reversed Monday’s losses, rallying 2.71%, while gold fell back from a record high of $3,500, ending the session down 1.26% at $3,381.

Eric Balchunas commented on BTC’s recent price gains, noting:

“Bitcoin up big yest when stocks down, showing negative correlation to stocks past week or so, better than treasuries (which are unreliable once again), altho gold is in a league of its own (-98). Obv a ridic small time frame but gotta get these small wins if it ever wants to be considered a true alternative IMO.”

BTC Price Outlook: Key Catalysts Ahead

On April 22, BTC jumped 6.72%, adding to Monday’s 2.65% gain, closing at $93,381.

Near-term price action will hinge on regulatory clarity and macroeconomic trends:

• Bearish Scenario: Tariff escalations, Fed hawkishness, weak US economic data, and ETF outflows could push BTC toward $80,000.
• Bullish Scenario: A dovish Fed, easing trade tensions, upbeat US PMI data, progress on crypto legislation, and fresh ETF inflows could lift BTC toward $100,000.

What to Watch

Investors should monitor progress in the Ripple case, US-China trade developments, and Fed commentary. Macroeconomic trends and ETF flows will remain central to crypto market sentiment. While a Ripple settlement may boost XRP, broader trends will likely align with shifts in global policy and risk appetite.

Read analysts’ insights on what may drive cryptocurrencies to new highs.