Alright, here’s something spicy for XRP fans — Coinbase Institutional just dropped a surprise: its subsidiary, Coinbase Derivatives, has filed with the CFTC to self-certify XRP futures contracts. Yeah, you heard that right — futures. For XRP. On a regulated U.S. platform.
The contracts are set to go live April 21, 2025, according to the announcement. Details around trading specs and broader access are still under wraps, but more info is expected to roll out in the coming weeks.
What’s the Big Deal?
Well — self-certification basically means Coinbase can launch these futures without waiting around for the CFTC to give an official green light, as long as everything checks out regulatory-wise.
This kind of move typically signals confidence, especially with XRP being one of the most liquid assets out there. It also opens the door for hedging, leverage, and institutional plays in a more structured, compliant way.
So yeah, it could be a big liquidity booster and bring more eyes (and dollars) into the XRP market.
Oops… Did Coinbase Just Call It “Ripple Futures”?
Now, not everyone was thrilled — or rather, not with the wording of the announcement.
In an earlier (now-deleted) post, Coinbase Institutional referred to the upcoming product as “Ripple futures” — which, if you know crypto Twitter, was like poking a hornet’s nest.
One user, Adam, called them out on X, reminding everyone that Ripple is the company, and XRP is the asset. Not the same thing, folks.
“You’d think Coinbase of all places would get that right,” he said. “It’s XRP futures — not Ripple. Please fix it.”
Honestly, fair. The Ripple/XRP confusion has been a hot topic for years. Ripple, the company, uses XRP in its payment rails — sure — but XRP exists outside Ripple, and plenty of other folks and platforms use it too.
What Comes Next?
If this launch goes as planned, it’ll mark a pretty big step forward — not just for XRP holders, but for crypto derivatives in general. A regulated XRP futures market in the U.S. means more tools, more flexibility, and maybe more mainstream confidence in the asset.
Coinbase says they’ll be dropping more info as we get closer to the launch. Until then, all eyes are on April 21.
