Access to XRP through ETFs and other regulated investment products is becoming part of a broader institutional shift away from Bitcoin-only crypto exposure. Sharif-Askary said institutional allocations are no longer confined to Bitcoin, with expanding product infrastructure pushing investors toward wider portfolio construction across digital assets.
She described XRP as a blockchain network with a long history in the sector and notable staying power. In her view, new ETFs, including potential XRP-linked offerings, are opening the door to a broader group of investors, especially those that have been unable to hold crypto directly because of compliance rules or operational constraints.
Portfolio managers are looking past initial Bitcoin exposure
Sharif-Askary said professional portfolio managers are now examining exposure across the rest of the crypto market. She noted that the market outside Bitcoin accounts for roughly half of total capitalization. After gaining initial exposure to Bitcoin, and in some cases Ethereum, institutions are now asking a different question: where diversification should come next.
Within that discussion, XRP is taking on a larger role. She said institutional clients are showing stronger interest in XRP’s place inside portfolio allocation, while financial advisors are seeing more questions from clients about XRP-related structured products. Recent developments inside the XRP community have also increased the frequency of conversations about how the asset fits into broader institutional allocation frameworks.
ETFs and regulated vehicles are becoming the main access route
According to Sharif-Askary, the continued rollout of regulated investment vehicles matches that demand. For professional investors, those structures make access easier and align better with compliance requirements. She said ETFs are changing who can access digital assets, and that XRP is directly part of that shift.
RippleX echoed the same point, saying the required market infrastructure and accessible products are already in place. Regulated vehicles are operational, the firm said, which allows institutional investors to participate now rather than wait for a future buildout. The message was straightforward: digital assets are increasingly being accessed through established financial rails.
Grayscale places XRP in its currency sector framework
Sharif-Askary also outlined how Grayscale classifies digital assets. The firm uses a six-sector taxonomy based on primary use case and market exposure. Under that model, XRP falls into the currency sector because its core function is tied to value transfer on public ledgers.
That framework is used for more than research. She said institutions rely on sector-based classification to guide allocation decisions and product selection. For investors that require clear operating rules, defined structures and compliant vehicles before entering newer markets, ETFs offer a regulated path to gain exposure to capabilities connected to the XRP Ledger. She added that XRP remains one of the most frequently discussed assets in advisor-client conversations.
RippleX said existing infrastructure is operational and available products are already live. In its view, the basic conditions for broader institutional participation across the XRP ecosystem are now in place.