XRP ETFs Draw Fresh Inflows as Bitcoin Funds Shed Nearly $1 Billion
Investors are rotating into XRP-linked exchange-traded funds while trimming exposure to Bitcoin and Ethereum products, according to CoinShares data reported by CoinDesk on May 19, 2026. The data covers the weekly period ending in mid-May and shows XRP and Solana funds attracting net inflows as Bitcoin fund outflows approached $1 billion.
Separately, CoinDesk reported on May 21, 2026, that XRP ETFs continued to attract inflows alongside a surge in newly created XRP network wallets — 4,300 new addresses in a single 24-hour period, which on-chain analytics firm Santiment identified as the fourth-largest daily wallet creation spike for XRP in 2026.
The Inflow Numbers
CoinDesk's May 12, 2026 report cited CoinShares data showing the five U.S.-listed spot XRP funds pulled in $25.8 million in a single day — described as the largest single-day net inflow since January 5, 2026. The same report noted spot Ether ETFs shed nearly $17 million on the same day.
U.Today separately reported on May 20, 2026, that XRP ETF assets under management have recorded a 100% uptick since their U.S. launch, with cumulative inflows above $1.35 billion and approximately 881.5 million XRP locked across the five funds as of mid-May 2026.
Wallet Activity Correlation
The simultaneous surge in XRP wallet creation during the same week adds an on-chain dimension to the institutional ETF data. According to Santiment data cited by both U.Today and CoinTelegraph in May 2026, the XRPL network reached its highest level of on-chain activity since March 2026 during this period, marked by a spike in active addresses and new wallets alongside increased accumulation by large-holder wallets.
Wallets holding at least 10 million XRP increased their aggregate holdings to 45.83 billion XRP — approximately 68% of total XRP supply — the most since May 2018, according to on-chain data reported by U.Today on May 22, 2026.
Broader ETF Context
XRP spot ETFs launched in the United States in early 2025. CoinTelegraph noted in late April 2026 that May 2026 was "set for the strongest monthly ETF inflows" the funds had seen since launch. The May CoinShares rotation data, showing XRP gaining as Bitcoin ETFs shed capital, is consistent with this pattern.
Sources: CoinDesk reporting on CoinShares data (May 19, May 21, 2026); CoinTelegraph ETF coverage (May 2026); U.Today on-chain data reports (May 20–22, 2026).