XRP Futures Go Live as Bitnomial Drops SEC Lawsuit

Bitnomial has officially launched the first-ever CFTC-regulated XRP futures, marking a major milestone for the digital asset industry. Alongside this launch, the company has also withdrawn its lawsuit against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Last October, Bitnomial sued the SEC, arguing that the regulator was attempting to overextend its jurisdiction by targeting its XRP futures. However, the firm has now dropped the case, coinciding with the SEC’s recent decision to withdraw its appeal in the Ripple lawsuit.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse hailed the SEC’s retreat as a "resounding victory," celebrating the end of the long-running legal battle. The resolution of the case and the debut of regulated XRP futures have fueled speculation that an XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) could soon be on the horizon, with approval odds now estimated at 80%.

The launch of XRP futures by Bitnomial raises questions about whether CME Group will follow suit. In January, CME accidentally leaked information about a potential XRP futures launch, later claiming it was an error. However, given its recent introduction of Solana (SOL) futures after a similar mishap, the possibility of XRP futures on CME remains open.

XRP surged 14% following the SEC’s legal retreat, as investor sentiment turned bullish. The introduction of CFTC-regulated futures further strengthens the case for institutional adoption of XRP.

As regulatory clarity improves and demand for XRP derivatives grows, the market eagerly awaits whether major exchanges like CME Group will capitalize on this momentum.