The post XRP ETF Approval May Come Soon Despite U.S. Government Shutdown Delays, Says Grayscale appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
As the U.S. government shutdown stretches beyond 20 days, concerns are growing that it could temporarily slow down the approval process for new crypto ETFs, including the highly anticipated XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF).
Zach Pandl, Head of Research at Grayscale Investments, said that while certain government functions remain open, ETF and ETP product reviews are among the areas facing delays. “Unfortunately for crypto ETF providers, one of the functions that slows down is approval of these types of products,” he said, adding that investors will need to wait “just a little longer” before new funds are cleared.
Despite the delay, Pandl expressed optimism that once the shutdown ends, the SEC will likely accelerate ETF approvals. He explained that regulators have already established “generic listing standards,” meaning they will not evaluate each cryptocurrency one by one. Instead, any asset that meets the criteria can qualify as an ETF or ETP.
This new approach could lead to a “big bang” moment in the coming months, with multiple single-asset ETFs, such as those for XRP and Solana, hitting the market almost simultaneously.
When asked which ETF might perform best, Pandl avoided choosing a favorite but said that both XRP and Solana offer unique strengths. He added that Grayscale’s diversified products, like its Crypto 5 ETF, allow investors to balance exposure while customizing allocations toward assets such as XRP.
Analysts say that an approved XRP ETF could mark a major milestone for the cryptocurrency, enhancing institutional access, liquidity, and legitimacy. While the U.S. shutdown may delay the timeline, industry experts remain confident that XRP’s entry into the ETF era is closer than ever.


BitGo’s move creates further competition in a burgeoning European crypto market that is expected to generate $26 billion revenue this year, according to one estimate. BitGo, a digital asset infrastructure company with more than $100 billion in assets under custody, has received an extension of its license from Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), enabling it to offer crypto services to European investors. The company said its local subsidiary, BitGo Europe, can now provide custody, staking, transfer, and trading services. Institutional clients will also have access to an over-the-counter (OTC) trading desk and multiple liquidity venues.The extension builds on BitGo’s previous Markets-in-Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license, also issued by BaFIN, and adds trading to the existing custody, transfer and staking services. BitGo acquired its initial MiCA license in May 2025, which allowed it to offer certain services to traditional institutions and crypto native companies in the European Union.Read more
