Bitwise files a registration statement with the SEC for a spot XRP ETF

Bitwise has filed its registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for an exchange-traded fund that would give investors exposure to the token XRP. 

In an S-1 filing made on Wednesday, the crypto index fund manager said BNY will serve as the trust's administrator and that Coinbase Custody Trust Company, LLC will be the custodian for the spot XRP ETF.

"The Trust’s investment objective is to seek to provide exposure to the value of XRP held by the Trust, less the expenses of the Trust’s operations and other liabilities," the firm said in its registration statement. 

Bitwise also asserted in its filing that XRP is not a security, pushing against what the SEC has said in the past. 

"XRP is a decentralized digital asset and ownership of it is reflected on a decentralized ledger. Additionally, XRP is not a security, and is thus not subject to the protections of the U.S. federal securities laws," according to the registration statement. 

A spot XRP ETF has not been approved by the SEC before, and if it does, it could face challenges. The SEC has been embroiled in a legal fight with Ripple after the agency accused the company of raising $1.3 billion through the sale of XRP, which it views as an unregistered security.

Bitwise also mentioned the SEC's case against Ripple in Wednesday's filing.

"If XRP is found by a court or other regulatory body to be a security, the Trust could be considered an unregistered 'investment company' under the Investment Company Act of 1940, which could necessitate the Trust’s liquidation under the terms of the Trust Agreement," according to the registration statement. 

Bitwise's filing of the registration statement comes after a filing for an entity named Bitwise XRP ETF was submitted to Delaware's Department of State's Division of Corporations on Monday, with CSC Delaware Trust Company listed as the registered agent. 

"For more than a decade, XRP has been an enduring crypto asset that many investors want exposure to," said Bitwise CEO Hunter Horsley in an X post. "Over the past 6+ years we’ve worked to pioneer investment vehicles that provide access to the emerging opportunities in the space."

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse also took to social media to comment about the filing. "This move underscores the growing trust & integration of digital assets like XRP into traditional finance, marking the continued adoption and maturation of the crypto market," he posted on X. "I sense this is just the beginning."

Some crypto ETFs began trading this year after getting the agency's go-ahead. The SEC approved several spot Bitcoin ETFs in January, including from firms such as BlackRock, Grayscale, and Fidelity. Later, the agency approved eight Ethereum ETFs. 

Updated: Oct. 2, 15:00 UTC: Added quotes from Brad Garlinghouse and Hunter Horsley.