Rumors surrounding the possibility of BlackRock filing for a Ripple (XRP) spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) are spreading rapidly through the cryptocurrency market. With claims circulating that a related filing will be submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Monday the 9th, XRP investors are paying close attention. However, no official announcement from BlackRock or definitive material supporting a filing plan has been confirmed yet.

Source of the Rumor… the '$5' Figure Is the Author's Assumption

On the 8th, the X (formerly Twitter) account 'STEPH IS CRYPTO (@Steph_iscrypto),' which covers cryptocurrency news, posted a rumor that BlackRock would file for a spot XRP ETF this Monday. The account added that if the rumor proves true, XRP's price could surge to $5 in an instant.

However, the $5 figure is merely a projection based on the post author's assumption. Neither BlackRock's ETF filing status nor how far XRP's price would actually move if a filing were made can be verified. Notably, the post also included promotional phrases and trading links for other cryptocurrencies alongside the XRP ETF claims, so the account's posts should not be treated the same as official BlackRock announcements or regulator-confirmed material.

Why It Draws Attention… BlackRock's Market Influence The rumor is drawing attention because of BlackRock's influence in the U.S. cryptocurrency ETF market. BlackRock manages the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), a spot Bitcoin ETF, and the iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA), a spot Ethereum ETF. The expansion of cryptocurrency investment products by major asset managers is considered an important variable regarding institutional investors' access to the market.

In particular, several asset managers have already launched spot XRP ETFs in the U.S. market. On September 30, U.S. financial outlet 24/7 Wall St. reported that the combined assets of seven spot XRP ETFs launched by competing managers, including Bitwise and Franklin Templeton, totaled approximately $1.77 billion as of September 25. If BlackRock actually enters the spot XRP ETF market, the competitive landscape with existing products could shift as well.

Not the First Filing Rumor… Past Reports Said 'No Plans' This is not the first time rumors of a BlackRock XRP ETF filing have emerged. In August of last year, cryptocurrency outlet The Block reported that BlackRock stated it had no plans at the time to file for XRP and Solana ETFs. Since then, speculation about BlackRock's potential entry into the XRP ETF market has repeatedly surfaced. On October 20, cryptocurrency outlet GnCrypto reported that BlackRock had filed for a new Bitcoin-related ETF but had not filed for spot XRP or Solana ETFs. As such, BlackRock's broader moves to expand its cryptocurrency investment products and the question of an XRP ETF filing need to be treated as separate matters.

'Filing ≠ Approval'… Price Variables Are Diverse What the market is watching is the impact if a filing actually happens. If BlackRock files for a spot XRP ETF, investors are expected to examine the product's structure, fees, listing schedule, and institutional demand.

However, an ETF filing does not immediately mean approval or the start of trading. Regulatory procedures and the product launch process remain after filing, and the actual scale of inflows can vary depending on market conditions.

Claims that XRP's price will rise to $5 should also be approached with caution. ETF filing news can affect investor sentiment, but prices are determined by multiple factors, including Bitcoin and Ethereum movements, U.S. monetary policy, cryptocurrency market liquidity, and derivatives positions. In a situation where unverified rumors are spreading quickly, investors should consider both the possibility of short-term price gains driven by expectations and the potential for subsequent sharp volatility.

Key Points to Verify: BlackRock's Official Announcement and SEC Filings Ultimately, market attention is expected to focus on whether an actual XRP spot ETF filing under BlackRock's name appears on Monday the 9th. The key items to verify are BlackRock's official announcement and related documents registered on the SEC's electronic filing system. If a filing is confirmed, it could serve as an opportunity to reassess the competitive landscape of the XRP ETF market and institutional investor demand. Conversely, if no official movement materializes, this rumor will remain an unconfirmed market speculation.

What matters most to XRP investors is not the $5 target price itself, but whether BlackRock actually acts. There is a clear difference between expectations and an official investment product filing.

[Some AI assistance was used in producing this article. This article does not recommend buying or selling any specific asset; investment decisions and responsibility rest with the investor.]