Teucrium CEO Sal Gilbertie recently shared insight into the company’s decision to launch a 2X Leveraged XRP ETF, citing a strong belief in XRP’s utility and real-world use case. 

In a Bloomberg interview, Gilbertie emphasized that XRP stands out among cryptocurrencies. According to him, XRP is outstanding not just as a tradable asset, but as a token with a clear function and the backing of a serious development team.

“We chose XRP because we believe it’s the coin with the most utility,” said Gilbertie. “It’s not just speculation; it facilitates real transactions. Ripple is a team of true professionals.”

Furthermore, Gilbertie positioned XRP as a practical tool for transferring value, contrasting it with other tokens criticized for being purely speculative. “Bitcoin is a store of value, and that’s valid,” he noted. “But XRP has a real use case.”

Bringing XRP to Wall Street Through a Traditional Wrapper

Notably, Gilbertie stressed that the 2X leveraged ETF targets short-term traders who want to bet on daily price movements without needing a margin account. 

When asked about demand for the product, he explained that interest is significant, citing the existence of over six million XRP wallets. He noted that the firm is simply offering a new way for investors to engage with XRP.

While acknowledging the risks associated with leveraged products, Gilbertie stressed that the ETF targets sophisticated retail and professional traders.

Beyond trading, Gilbertie believes XRP and Ripple are laying the foundation for broader financial transformation. He indicated that Ripple is building toward “tokenizing everything.” 

Moreover, he cited Ripple’s acquisition of Hidden Road, a broker-dealer and clearing member, calling it a massive step toward integrating traditional finance with DeFi.

Gilbertie sees a future where traditional financial infrastructure blends with decentralized systems. He stressed that this transition won’t happen overnight but will be more efficient.

Favorable Regulatory Climate Opens Door for Crypto Innovation

Meanwhile, the host shifted the conversation to how Teucrium secured approval for the XRP ETF, pointing out that approval for such a product would have been nearly impossible just a year ago. Gilbertie attributed this shift to new leadership at the SEC.

“The old SEC leadership was a blocker to crypto innovation. But the current SEC appears more open-minded,” he said.

According to Gilbertie, Teucrium applied for approval during a transitional period at the SEC. He noted that the SEC staff was great to work with, saying, “It’s really the leadership that makes the difference.”

What’s Next for Teucrium? Inverse ETF and More in the Pipeline

Interestingly, Teucrium is already looking ahead after the success of its leveraged XRP ETF. Notably, the firm reported a market-wide commendable first-day turnover of over $5.3 million while the market was bearish.

Now, the CEO disclosed that the company has filed for an inverse product and is eager to gauge investor interest.

“We don’t launch funds unless we truly believe in the asset. We believe in XRP. Its use case is proven—it just needs to expand,” Gilbertie concluded.