$1.3 Trillion Shortlist: XRP Joins Elite List of Coins That Fund Managers Expect to Grow

A new CoinShares survey covering asset managers overseeing $1.3 trillion in assets identified an important shift in the psychology of major fund managers. Against the backdrop of a broader decline in risk appetite, professional investors have started “cleaning up” their portfolios, leaving only assets with clearly defined value propositions.

The biggest surprise of May was the contrast between generations of altcoins. While interest in legacy projects such as Cardano and Polkadot has effectively collapsed, optimism toward $XRP has increased.

$1.3 trillion managers are betting on $XRP's future

According to the survey, expectations for $XRP growth are now higher than during the previous survey. The asset has officially secured its place in the “big four” alongside Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana, which collectively account for the lion's share of institutional attention.

Fund manager survey by May 2026 - compelling growth, Source: CoinShares

“Cryptocurrency is no longer a lottery,” analyst James Butterfill stated, arguing that the industry has finally outgrown the era of pure hype. The survey revealed a historic low in speculative interest:

• Diversification and client demand now drive 63% of investments.
• Speculation as a reason for buying has collapsed to just 15%, whereas two years ago it was the dominant force.

Investors are maturing, and they are willing to tolerate volatility, but they now demand fundamental justification, the research concludes.

What is preventing $XRP and the broader market from taking off？

Despite confidence in future growth, actual allocations remain modest, with the median portfolio exposure sitting at just 1%. Wall Street openly identifies the main obstacles to growth in May 2026:

• Political deadlock in the Senate: The main limiting factor remains the battle surrounding the Clarity Act. Until the rules of the game are established by law, major funds remain tied down.
• Corporate conservatism: Internal restrictions and outdated institutional reporting systems have unexpectedly moved to the top of the list of barriers, overtaking even fears surrounding volatility.

Two years ago, speculation was the leading reason fund managers held digital assets. Today it sits at 15%.

In its place: diversification and client demand are now 63% of the allocation rationale. Highlights from our latest Digital Asset Fund Manager Survey

- Bitcoin still leads…

— James Butterfill (@jbutterfill) May 6, 2026

In summary, $XRP has found its place in the new hierarchy of digital assets. It is no longer viewed as an “experimental token,” but rather as part of the core basket that funds hold while waiting for regulatory resolution. Wall Street is prepared to buy more, but is waiting for politicians to finish debating the Clarity Act.