Bank of America has disclosed holdings tied to an XRP exchange-traded product, marking another notable moment in the gradual integration of digital assets into mainstream finance.
Key takeaways
Bank of America disclosed indirect exposure to XRP through shares of the Volatility Shares XRP ETF.
XRP price under pressure amid broader market downtrend.
Ripple secured an EU-wide EMI license and expanded its institutional offerings through Ripple Prime.
Regulatory filings show the bank holds roughly 13,000 shares linked to the Volatility Shares XRP ETF, giving it indirect exposure to XRP without holding the token directly.
While the position itself is modest in size, the significance lies in who is taking the exposure. One of the largest financial institutions in the United States acknowledging XRP-linked exposure through an ETF structure reinforces the idea that digital assets are increasingly being accessed through regulated investment vehicles rather than direct custody.
The disclosure also revives attention on Bank of America’s long-running relationship with Ripple. The bank has participated in Ripple-related pilots for cross-border payments since at least 2019 and has been linked to experimentation around blockchain-based settlement infrastructure. Recent industry chatter has also pointed to renewed collaboration around stablecoin and payment rail concepts, though the bank has not publicly detailed the scope of its current usage.
Market participants largely view ETF exposure as a lower-friction entry point for institutions that want price-linked exposure while avoiding direct token management, regulatory uncertainty, or custody complexity. In that context, the filing adds to a growing list of signals that XRP remains on the radar of traditional financial players.
Recent Developments Around Ripple’s Global Expansion
Separate from the Bank of America disclosure, Ripple has continued to expand its regulatory and institutional footprint in early 2026.
On February 2, 2026, Ripple received full approval for an electronic money institution license from Luxembourg’s financial regulator, the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier. The approval allows Ripple to offer regulated payment services across all 27 European Union member states under a single licensing framework, strengthening its position in the European payments market.
In parallel, Ripple Prime announced support for Hyperliquid, a decentralized derivatives protocol. The move enables institutional clients to access on-chain derivatives liquidity through a unified platform, blending traditional prime brokerage-style services with decentralized market infrastructure. The announcement highlights Ripple’s broader push to serve institutional clients beyond payments alone.
XRP Technical Picture Weakens After Market Sell-Off
From a market perspective, XRP has come under pressure alongside the broader crypto sell-off. On the 4-hour chart, price has been trending lower with a series of lower highs and lower lows, reflecting persistent selling pressure.
Momentum indicators confirm the weakness. The Relative Strength Index has dropped into the low-30s, signaling near-oversold conditions but not yet showing a clear reversal. This suggests downside momentum remains present, even as short-term relief bounces become more likely.
The MACD remains below the signal line, with negative histogram readings indicating bearish momentum is still dominant. While the rate of decline has slowed slightly, there is no confirmed bullish crossover yet, keeping the near-term bias cautious.
Traders are now watching whether XRP can stabilize above recent support zones or if continued macro and crypto-wide risk-off sentiment pushes prices lower before any meaningful recovery takes shape.
