Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse anticipates SEC approval of an XRP Spot ETF by October 2025, which could significantly enhance XRP's market legitimacy. An XRP Spot ETF would provide easier access for institutional and retail investors, increasing liquidity and adoption of XRP. The XRP ETF would follow in the footsteps of Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, potentially stabilizing XRP’s price and attracting greater institutional investment. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse, according to X, has stated it is expected that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) would accept an XRP Spot Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) in the near future. According to Garlinghouse, the ETF trading could start as soon as October where the SEC is set to make its final decision.The possibility of having XRP Spot ETF has been under the interest of market players over a long time. The introduction of Bitcoin ETF and the subsequent introduction of Ethereum futures ETF has demonstrated the increased need in these types of assets. Nevertheless, XRP has undergone special regulatory challenges especially due to its legal clash with SEC, making the future of the cryptocurrency quite bleak. However, these accusations may be a setback to XRP. The optimistic perspective provided by Garlinghouse portends a breakthrough that can be a game changer of the asset and the crypto market in general. SEC's Role and the Potential Approval Process Regulatory bodies across the U.S., especially the SEC, have also been on the forefront of regulating the cryptocurrency markets especially with regards to whether digital assets can be deemed as securities under the U.S law. An example of this is a case filed against Ripple Labs by the SEC in December 2020 that claimed that the Ripple company had engaged in an unregistered securities offering through the sale of XRP. This case has dragged on over the years leaving the state of XRP uncertain and whether or not the digital asset can be used to launch financial products such as an ETF. In late 2023, the SEC decision that Ripple is non-security when sold on secondary markets in some conditions was considered an important win of Ripple. The ruling implied the possibility of SEC being open to re-classification of XRP and thus an XRP Spot ETF is more likely to be approved. This growing optimism is supported by the statement by Brad Garlinghouse who expects the approval of the asset by October 2025. In the event of SEC approving the ETF, it will be a game changer in the case of XRP as the move will signify a transition of the way the market perceives the digital asset and its regulatory status. The Ripple Effect of an XRP Spot ETF The introduction of an XRP Spot ETF would potentially be of benefit to the market and in particular result in more liquidity and institutional investment. To institutions, a regulated XRP ETF would reduce the barriers of entry, thus giving bigger financial players a risk-free chance to apply to the XRP by electronic means. Such a move would probably translate into increased demand that would possibly shoot up the cost of XRP and foster its wider use. Moreover, the listing of an ETF would help XRP to continue to strengthen its niche as a mainstream asset in the global financial ecosystem. An XRP Spot ETF would be of benefit to retail investors as well, beyond the institutional investment. They have contributed to the rising popularity of crypto ETFs, which have paved the way to bridge the lapse between traditional finance and the cryptocurrency market, allowing investors an easy developing asset class. Since XRP can be described as unique in the market, an ETF would help increase its adoption by both the individuals and institutional investors. In case the SEC allows an XRP Spot ETF, market analysts believe that it might result in a high increase in XRP liquidity. Such product introduction would also see XRP gain more exposure to the mainstream financial markets which would most likely result in more interest in the cryptocurrency by new and existing investors. The ETF would also cause increased credibility that the cryptocurrency industry as such would receive as a result might be mentioned. The growing realization of XRP as a legit asset in the eyes of more traditional financial institutions will likely positively affect the entire way digital assets are perceived. This may kick off further capital influx into the crypto market. Regarding the functionality of the price movement, it is impossible to specify the definite effects, but the influx of institutional and general market interest may have a significant upward impact on the price of the XRP. Besides the liquidity enhancement, long-term stabilization of the asset may be achieved with the help of the product, leading to the establishment of the price movement and investor assurance. Broader ETF Trends in the Cryptocurrency Space The approved XRP Spot ETF would be the next in the line of such similar funds that have already started transforming the situation in the cryptocurrency world. The introduction of Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs has preconditioned the entry of other institutional investors into the cryptocurrency market since with these products traders can receive a convenient model of interacting with the traditionally volatile assets. The authorization of these ETFs has already shown an indication of how these products can serve or give legitimacy to digital assets. The rise in price following the ETF approval has demonstrated that large-scale products can make prices stable and enter new players in the market. On the same note, the emergence of Ethereum via its Ethereum Futures ETF has also strengthened the worth of digital assets in terms of financial products. Despite these legal battles, Garlinghouse is optimistic concerning the future of Ripple and its flagship crypto Ripple, XRP. He further also added in his recent endorsements that Ripple would still be in close collaboration with the regulators to make sure that its operations remain legal per all the laws that apply to them. When it comes to the cryptocurrency market, it is best described as a highly regulated sphere, and one of the most serious factors that define the way that digital currencies will develop is the role of the SEC in approving ETFs. The ways through which Ripple has tried to cope with this blurred regulatory environment and especially their journey since the lawsuit against SEC have put the company in an advantageous position to forge further, as long as a series of positive decisions keep coming to fruition.