Asset management giant BlackRock has definitively stated it has no current intentions to file for spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that would directly track the price of XRP or Solana (SOL). This clarification aims to put an end to significant market speculation that has persisted for months. Despite BlackRock’s firm stance, Nate Geraci, President of NovaDius Wealth Management, has publicly suggested that this decision may be viewed as a future misstep for the financial titan.

Geraci, who has consistently predicted BlackRock’s entry into the spot XRP and Solana ETF market, recently offered an alternative perspective during a podcast appearance. He opined that BlackRock might be strategically waiting for a new, more comprehensive SEC exchange-traded fund approval framework to be established before making any such filings. This theory suggests that while BlackRock is a dominant player in the ETF sector, with its iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) accumulating over $53 billion in cumulative net flows, it exercises caution and prefers to operate within clear regulatory guidelines.

The timing of potential filings remains a point of contention and interest. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is reportedly considering greenlighting single-asset crypto products, potentially as early as October. Geraci expressed concern regarding BlackRock’s apparent delay, noting, "We're getting a little bit late here in the sense of, I think, again, we're getting closer to the finish line, and they still haven't filed." This sentiment highlights the anticipation within the crypto community for major institutional players like BlackRock and Fidelity to potentially enter the altcoin ETF space.

Adding to his reasoning, Geraci emphasized BlackRock’s known preference for an index-based approach in traditional asset classes such as stocks and bonds. He argues that there is no fundamental reason why this philosophy would not extend to the cryptocurrency market. This perspective leads him to continue predicting that BlackRock will eventually launch additional individual altcoin ETFs, as well as broader index-based crypto ETFs, aligning with their established investment strategies.

While BlackRock maintains its current position, the broader market sentiment remains divided. Bloomberg analysts continue to assign high odds, around 95%, for the approval of an XRP ETF, whereas bettors on Polymarket appear less optimistic. Currently, asset manager Franklin Templeton stands as the most prominent firm that has actively filed for such a product, with BlackRock and Fidelity opting to remain on the sidelines for now, at least officially.