XRP (XRP 1.28%) has recently seen pullbacks following news that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has delayed its decision on whether the cryptocurrency can be included in new exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Higher-than-expected inflation and recent reports from major U.S. retailers suggesting that inflationary pressures could be poised to worsen in the near term have also weighed on the token's valuation.

While XRP is still up 39% across 2025's trading, it's also down 20% from its high. On the heels of recent sell-offs, there's one significant catalyst on the horizon that suggests that now could be a good time to invest in the cryptocurrency.

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Buying XRP before October could be a smart move

With a recent update, the SEC said that it had pushed out decisions on whether it would allow two new ETFs centered around the XRP token that were expected to arrive this month. A decision on the application for the Grayscale XRP trust is now expected to arrive Oct. 18, and one on the 21Shares Core XRP Trust is expected by Oct. 19.

While the SEC's recent decision to postpone how it will respond to applications for these ETFs has seemingly added to uncertainty surrounding whether the cryptocurrency will become part of publicly traded funds listed on major exchanges, there are good reasons to think that the token will receive approval for fund inclusion. Current SEC chairman Paul Atkins' support for the crypto industry and general advocacy for a more lax regulatory approach to the space is one of the key points where he differed from previous chairman Gary Gensler.

Along with executive orders on the crypto industry and other moves from the Trump administration to support the adoption of cryptocurrencies, signs of policy shifts at the SEC support the thesis that the regulatory agency will approve XRP's inclusion in ETFs. While higher-than-expected inflation and a slower path to interest rate cuts could introduce bearish pressures for the token, political and regulatory catalysts suggest paths to more gains this year.