Top Portfolio Manager Michael Gayed Hints at XRP Move as XRP ETF Inflows Reach $887M
Michael Gayed, a prominent portfolio manager known for ETF strategies (FMKT, ATACX), tweeted he “might do something related to XRP,” marking his first notable public comment on XRP and drawing attention across the XRP community. Gayed is a vocal Bitcoin critic and sceptical of common crypto narratives, so his hint is viewed as a sign of growing institutional interest. The remark coincides with historic inflows into XRP ETFs: $12.84 million added yesterday (Franklin $5.7M, Bitwise $3.76M, Grayscale $2.04M, Canary $1.34M), taking cumulative inflows to $887.12 million and total ETF assets to about $906M before a slight drop to $881M amid a mild spot-price correction. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse commented that these ETF inflows are “just the beginning,” noting crypto ETFs still represent only ~2% of the global ETF market and signalling room for institutional growth. The article frames Gayed’s hint and the ETF inflows as evidence of rising institutional attention to XRP. This is informational and not financial advice.
Bullish
The news is bullish for XRP for several reasons. First, a well-known institutional portfolio manager publicly hinting at involvement signals growing interest from traditional finance, which can attract capital and credibility. Second, the article documents substantial ETF inflows—$887M cumulative—with daily contributions from major managers (Franklin, Bitwise, Grayscale), showing institutional allocation is already occurring. Third, Ripple leadership framing inflows as “just the beginning” and noting crypto ETFs are a small share of global ETF assets supports the narrative of significant upside potential as adoption grows. Historically, ETFs and visible institutional commitments have supported sustained price appreciation and reduced volatility over time by broadening investor base (e.g., BTC ETF inflows correlated with multi-month price rallies). In the short term, continued ETF inflows and positive commentary from figures like Gayed could lift sentiment and prompt price spikes or reduced sell pressure. However, the immediate effect may be muted by spot-price corrections and profit-taking; ETF NAV fluctuations can also cause asset AUM to move independently of flows. In the long term, persistent institutional adoption via ETFs and product development (prime-brokerage usage) tends to be structurally bullish—improving liquidity, narrowing spreads, and encouraging more institutions to enter. Traders should watch daily ETF flows, changes in ETF AUM, large on-chain movements, and regulatory developments. Risk remains: market-wide corrections, regulatory setbacks, or reversal of institutional sentiment could negate gains.