The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned a money laundering network linked to North Korea, involving 54 cryptocurrency addresses.

Franklin Templeton, one of the world’s largest asset management firms, has taken a significant step in introducing the Spot XRP Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF). The company submitted an updated S-1 registration statement to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last week, removing language that likely stood in the way of approval. The change is indicative of a strong commitment to completing the fund sale in short order — as soon as this month. The amendment is primarily designed to eliminate the “8(a)” delay clause, a technological artifact of ETF filings under which the SEC can prevent the effectiveness of a registration statement from taking effect automatically until it affirmatively approves it. By deleting this provision, Franklin Templeton secures the right to render effective the filing of the Registration Statement automatically upon fulfillment of all other conditions. This development positions Franklin Templeton as one of the most ambitious asset managers to file for a crypto ETF amid the current market flow. It replicates an approach that Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF issuers previously adopted, expediting approvals and listings when the 8(a) clause was removed. The timing of this change is crucial. Analysts say it betrays a confidence that the SEC will not register additional complaints against XRP-related products — especially as the market continues to mature and regulatory infrastructures around crypto ETFs take clearer shape. For Franklin Templeton, which manages assets worth more than $1 trillion globally, an XRP ETF would be a significant addition to its cryptocurrency investment offerings. The firm already offers exposure to Bitcoin and Ethereum through similar products, indicating an increasing confidence in digital assets as an emerging investment asset class. Other asset managers race to launch XRP ETFs Franklin Templeton isn’t the only one seeking to launch an XRP ETF. Other asset managers, such as Canary Funds and Bitwise, have also revised their S-1 filings in recent weeks. Canary Funds has withdrawn its operating company’s delaying amendment and is seeking to go live in mid-November, subject to exchange approval. Bitwise, another major player in digital asset management, announced that it would list an XRP ETF on a prominent U.S. exchange. The company has already made public fees and custodial arrangements — the last steps generally completed when an ETF is on the verge of a launch. The surge in amended filings indicates growing industry optimism that the SEC may approve several XRP ETFs for marketing around the same time. For investors, this would provide new, regulated access to one of the world’s most widely traded cryptocurrencies, without the need to hold a token directly. Investors prepare for ripple effect on markets The competition to offer an XRP ETF demonstrates the next step toward institutional involvement in digital assets. If approved, these funds would provide investors with a straightforward, regulated way to gain token access to XRP price movements through traditional brokerages. An XRP ETF could also onboard new retail investors and boost the liquidity and trust of the asset, similarly to what spot Bitcoin ETFs achieved earlier this year. Those funds attracted billions of dollars in inflows within a matter of weeks, a subtle indication of the pent-up demand among institutional and retail investors. The SEC, which has become more receptive to digital-asset ETFs after approving products including Bitcoin and Ethereum, is still carefully weighing every filing. Final approval will be based on full disclosure, custody, and transparency of how pricing is happening through the base market. Still, market participants view the update in Franklin Templeton’s filing as their strongest sign yet that they are poised. With a swift response from the firm and news of other competing funds, this should mean that we don’t have long to wait for the first XRP ETF — marking another key turning point in crypto’s journey into traditional finance. If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter.

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