BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, has unequivocally refuted any intentions of launching a spot XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the immediate future. The denial follows the emergence of a counterfeit filing that falsely claimed BlackRock had registered an iShares XRP Trust, temporarily fueling speculation that an XRP exchange-traded fund would soon be released. 

A representative from BlackRock confirmed to CryptoSlate that the regulatory filing indicating an XRP exchange-traded fund is false.

The fraudulent filing closely mimics BlackRock's filings for its spot Ethereum and spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds. Notably, it was filed under the name and address of one of BlackRock's managing directors.

This misleading filing initially gained traction on Twitter, sparking a brief surge in the price of XRP by more than 10%. The price of XRP promptly retraced to 65 cents per token after the truth about the falsified filing emerged, currently trading at $0.66.

False news and rumors are a well-known tactic that bad actors use to artificially inflate cryptocurrency prices, enabling them to profit heavily from their holdings.

It is imperative to highlight that, as of now, there are no spot XRP ETFs available for trading in the United States. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not granted approval for any spot XRP ETFs, leaving uncertainty regarding when or if such products will receive regulatory clearance.

Crypto enthusiasts and investors should exercise caution and diligence, especially when misinformation is spread, as it can have swift and impactful consequences.