$ETH Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse expressed approval of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange's upcoming XRP futures contracts, calling it an important and exciting step for the continued growth of the XRP market. However, he noted that while this initiative has been delayed in many aspects, it is significant as it marks XRP's recognition in mainstream financial markets. This move not only provides regulated trading tools for professional investors but may also pave the way for the future launch of an XRP spot ETF, validating XRP's status as a mature and investable asset class.