XRP is getting left behind in the crypto bounce even as ETFs keep attracting investor money

Payments-focused cryptocurrency XRP dropped about 5% to $1.03 last week, even as bitcoin BTC$64,942.61, ether ETH$1,915.15, and solana (SOL) each climbed 1% to 4%. The broader crypto market added 1.4%, pushing total market capitalization to $2.19 trillion. XRP is currently hovering near $1.03.

The underperformance is puzzling because XRP exchange-traded funds still attracted net investor capital for a fourth consecutive week. The inflows, however, have slowed sharply, collapsing roughly 93% week-over-week to around $1 million, according to data source SoSoValue. Meanwhile, bitcoin and ether funds pulled in hundreds of millions.

Traders and analysts on X and elsewhere point to several overlapping explanations for the price apathy. Regulatory uncertainty tops the list: the Senate has delayed consideration of the CLARITY Act, the legislation many view as key to clarifying XRP’s status and unlocking broader institutional participation. That vote is not expected until mid-September at the earliest.

On the flow side, the setup currently looks balanced.

“XRP’s positioning looks patient in its own right, with order flow staying large even as volume metrics turn neutral — quiet absorption rather than capitulation or a confirmed breakout,” Iliya Kalchev,, analyst at Nexo, said in an email.

Still, long-term optimism remains high.

Jake Claver, a qualified family office professional (QFOP) who serves as chairman of Digital Ascension Group, a multi-family office focused on digital assets, has argued that the token is increasingly positioned for a structural role in global finance.

“XRP is looking more and more like it will claim its spot as a global bridge asset and possibly be recognized by the BIS as tier-one asset in the future,” Claver said, referring to the Bank for International Settlements’ highest capital classification for the most liquid and stable assets banks can hold.