Investors rushed into the first U.S. exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tied to Dogecoin and XRP, driving trading volumes far above Wall Street forecasts. The two funds, launched Thursday by REX Shares and Osprey Funds, together saw nearly $55 million in trades on their debut, a blockbuster start for altcoin ETFs.
The REX-Osprey XRP ETF (ticker: XRPR) led the charge, recording $37.7 million in trading volume, according to Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas. He noted it was the “biggest day one” of any ETF launched in 2025 so far.
$XRPR traded $37.7m on Day One, which edges out $IVES for the biggest day one (natural) $ volume of any 2025 launch. $DOJE is no slouch at $17m, which would be Top 5 for year.. out of 710 launches. Good sign for the onslaught of 33 Act ETFs coming soon.. pic.twitter.com/JaQP9ekFIq
— Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) September 18, 2025
Within just 90 minutes, XRPR had already clocked $24 million in trades, five times more than any XRP futures ETF had achieved on its first day. XRP itself is the world’s third-largest cryptocurrency, currently trading around $3.06, down 1.64% in the last 24 hours
Dogecoin ETF Also Surprises
Meanwhile, the REX-Osprey Dogecoin ETF (ticker: DOJE) also smashed expectations. Balchunas initially predicted $2.5 million in first-day volume, but DOJE closed Thursday with $17 million in trades, placing it among the top five ETF debuts of the year. Dogecoin, the largest memecoin by market cap, is priced at about $0.28, down 1.78% in the last 24 hours.
Setting the over/under on $DOJE volume on Day One at $2.5 million (which is respectable table but nothing too special). The fact that’s it 40 Act and not 33 Act (and is not big boy issuer) could diminish interest a bit relative to other crypto first evers. We’ll soon find out.
— Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) September 18, 2025
Both funds are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (40 Act), unlike Bitcoin and Ether ETFs launched under the 1933 Act. While the 40 Act has stricter rules, it allows faster approval. The ETFs do not hold crypto directly but gain exposure through offshore subsidiaries and foreign exchange-traded products.
Analysts say the strong debut signals growing appetite for crypto ETFs beyond Bitcoin and Ether. Balchunas called it a “good sign” for the wave of altcoin and staking-focused funds waiting for regulatory approval.
With the SEC recently approving new listing standards to speed up ETF launches, more crypto assets could soon join XRP and Dogecoin in the spotlight.
Also Read: REX-Osprey Solana Staking ETF Hits $250M as SOL Price Soars