Day: July 19, 2025

Global ETF Industry Hits Record $17 Trillion in Assets Under Management

Posted on by Ignacio Teson

The global ETF industry reached a new all-time high at the end of June, closing the first half of 2025 with nearly $17 trillion in assets under management (AUM).

According to ETFGI, a leading research and consultancy firm specializing in the ETF space, global ETFs saw net inflows of $158.78 billion last month—pushing year-to-date flows to a record $897.65 billion.

As a result, total assets invested in ETFs worldwide rose to $16.99 trillion, surpassing the previous peak of $16.27 trillion set in May. June marked the 73rd consecutive month of global net inflows into ETFs, underscoring the sector’s resilience and growing investor demand.

Strong Market Performance Boosts AUM

The S&P 500 gained 5.09% in June, lifting its year-to-date return to 6.20%. Developed markets excluding the U.S. rose 3.24% last month, bringing their year-to-date gain to a robust 20.29%. The best-performing markets in June were South Korea (+16.12%) and Israel (+11.60%). Emerging markets advanced 4.80% in June and are now up 11.41% YTD, led by Taiwan (+8.53%) and Turkey (+8.49%).

Overall, ETF assets grew by 14.5% in the first half of 2025—from $14.85 trillion at the end of 2024 to $16.99 trillion—driven by market appreciation and record-breaking net inflows. ETFGI noted that 2025’s first-half net inflows already exceed previous full-year records: $730.18 billion in 2024 and $658.86 billion in 2021.

Product Innovation and Global Expansion

The ETF universe continues to expand rapidly. As of June, there were 14,390 ETF products with 28,447 listings across 81 exchanges in 63 countries. In June alone, 1,308 new ETFs were launched globally. After accounting for 266 closures, there was a net increase of 1,042 ETFs—breaking the previous record of 878 net new listings in 2024.

Regionally, the United States led with 481 ETF launches, followed by Asia Pacific (ex-Japan) with 399, and Europe with 198. Asia Pacific also saw the highest number of closures (115), ahead of the U.S. (82) and Europe (26).

A total of 326 issuers contributed to new listings across 36 exchanges, while 98 providers were responsible for the 266 closures on 24 platforms.

Equity and Fixed Income Flows

Equity ETFs attracted $58.68 billion in net inflows in June, bringing the YTD total to $388.38 billion—slightly below last year’s pace. Fixed income ETFs drew $39.60 billion in June, boosting their 2025 total to $180.71 billion—surpassing the previous year’s level.

ETF launches continue to reflect growing diversification: of the new products introduced in June, 654 were active ETFs, 425 were equity ETFs, and 80 were fixed income ETFs—highlighting continued innovation across asset classes.

Post-GENIUS Act, Mastercard Backs Stablecoins with Centralized Approach

Posted on by Olumide Adesina

Mastercard has officially embraced stablecoins, positioning itself as a vital component of the evolving financial system. The discourse surrounding stablecoins is being significantly influenced by the recent passage of the Genius Act.

Mastercard, a leading payments company, expressed its support for stablecoins, which removes a significant obstacle to their growth. However, the concept of decentralized money does not align with Mastercard’s vision for the future.

This development represents a pivotal moment for stablecoins. The U.S. Congress’s enactment of the GENIUS Act ushers in a new era of clear regulations and heightened trust in digital assets, according to Jesse McWaters, Executive Vice President at Mastercard.

McWaters emphasized that stablecoins are already being utilized in practical applications, particularly for international payments. They provide a fast and cost-effective alternative to traditional banking transfers and other payment methods for international business-to-business transactions or remittances.

However, McWaters believes that an essential element missing from stablecoins is an intermediary like Mastercard. Mastercard describes itself as “one of the world’s most trusted payments networks” and aims to play a vital role as a centralized middleman in a stablecoin ecosystem.

Still, stablecoins need more than speed and programmability to move from niche to mainstream.

They must be part of trustworthy systems that protect users, resolve issues, and work smoothly across platforms and borders, according to McWaters. “Mastercard can help with that,” he added.

The large payments company has already begun several projects focused on stablecoins, including features that enhance user protection and compliance, such as Mastercard Crypto Credential and Mastercard Multi-Token Network. Mastercard envisions a future where trust shifts away from peer-to-peer systems that lack reliability.

Ripple: XRP Faces imminent correction after Record High

Posted on by Olumide Adesina

XRP appears to be forming a falling star candlestick pattern after one of the most aggressive rallies among major altcoins. This pattern is a crucial technical indicator that often predicts short-term reversals and intraday rejections at higher price levels.

 

XRP is attempting to create a daily candle that will complete the falling star, characterized by a long upper wick, a thin body, and little to no lower shadow. This pattern suggests an upcoming bearish reversal, especially if it is followed by a red candle and declining volume, which are common after a sustained bullish move.

XRP reached a price of approximately $3.70, but selling pressure soon emerged, erasing most of the gains and leaving behind a tall wick. Bulls are facing downward pressure, indicating that buying enthusiasm may be reaching its limit. XRP is still significantly up for the week, and at the time of writing, it is priced at $3.45.

Additionally, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) has surged past 70 and now stands at 88. XRP hit $3.66 this week, surpassing its 2018 all-time high of $3.40. The weekly chart, which smooths out daily fluctuations over several months, the technical outlook for XRP appears strong enough to suggest continuation.

The weekly RSI near 70 indicates an overbought condition.

While this may raise concerns for day traders, it tells a different story over longer periods. On weekly charts, RSI levels above 70 often indicate strong bullish momentum rather than imminent sharp declines. Historical data shows that assets can remain “overbought” for several weeks during solid growth, which is a positive sign for long-term investors. Currently, XRP scores 19 on the Average Directional Index (ADX) weekly chart, generally indicating a weak trend.

However, this can be misleading, as ADX measures trend strength on a scale from 0 to 100. Although levels below 25 typically suggest weak trends, the overall context is important.