Morgan Stanley, one of the world’s largest investment banks, has disclosed exposure to multiple XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in its second-quarter 2026 regulatory filings. According to the firm’s Form 13F submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company holds positions in the Franklin XRP ETF, the REX-Osprey XRP ETF, and the Bitwise XRP ETF.
Institutional investor momentum builds
The filings by Morgan Stanley signal growing institutional engagement with XRP-based investment products. XRP has consistently appeared in the portfolios of major institutional investors through various ETFs. For example, Militia Capital Management, a U.S.-based investment advisory firm, recently submitted an amended Form 13F, reporting an XRP ETF position valued at roughly $478,000 as of August 13.
SEC data also reflect that other major institutional investors, including Bank of Montreal—a leading financial institution in Canada—have recorded holdings in XRP ETFs such as Bitwise XRP ETF and REX-Osprey XRP ETF during the first and second quarters of 2026.
A wider range of wealth managers, banks, and investment firms have increasingly added XRP-related ETFs to their portfolios, underscoring a trend toward broader institutional adoption of digital asset products.
Mini dictionary: Form 13F, a quarterly report required by the SEC from institutional investment managers who manage over $100 million in assets. It lists their holdings in publicly traded securities, offering insight into institutional investment activity.
| Institution | XRP ETF Holdings (2026) |
|---|---|
| Morgan Stanley | Franklin XRP ETF, REX-Osprey XRP ETF, Bitwise XRP ETF |
| Militia Capital Management | XRP ETF ($478,000) |
| Bank of Montreal | Bitwise XRP ETF, REX-Osprey XRP ETF |
XRP-related ETFs have attracted growing attention from major wealth managers, banks, and institutional investors who are seeking diversified exposure to digital assets.
XRP price performance weakens in 2026
Despite the uptick in institutional interest, XRP’s market performance has remained under pressure in 2026. On Binance, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, the price of XRP dropped below the $1 threshold for the first time since November, reflecting a broader decline throughout the year.
XRP has lost approximately 46% of its value since the beginning of 2026 and has underperformed Bitcoin by around 31% during the same period. The cryptocurrency’s price continues to struggle despite consistent inflows into XRP ETFs and other signs of institutional adoption.
Recent positive developments within the Ripple ecosystem have provided limited support, with the impact on XRP’s price being muted in the short term.
Even as ETF inflows grow and Ripple’s ecosystem evolves, XRP’s persistent price weakness has highlighted the disconnect between institutional positioning and market sentiment.
Trading activity surges as price falls
While prices have declined, there has been a marked increase in trading volumes for XRP in recent weeks. This spike in trading activity suggests heightened interest among both institutional and retail market participants, despite ongoing price challenges.
Market observers are watching whether increased institutional engagement through ETFs and growing trading volumes may eventually lead to greater price stability for XRP going forward.
