CME Group reported that its August 2026 average daily volume (ADV) reached 29.7 million contracts, up 6% from August 2025, marking its second-highest August on record. ^[1] CryptoSlate's 90-day prediction model places XRP's bullish outcome at the 80th percentile, targeting a price of $2.14, which is nearly 59% above its $1.35 reference close. ^[2] Exposure on the regulated U.S. exchange climbed about 36% during the same period. ^[3] Outstanding XRP futures positions outside the CME fell by more than 500 million tokens in two weeks. ^[4] CME Group reported record August 2026 volumes for Ultra U.S. Treasury Bond futures at 791,000 contracts, Chicago SRW Wheat futures at 216,000 contracts, and KC HRW Wheat futures at 109,000 contracts. ^[5] CME positioning data showed leveraged funds were net short the equivalent of 115.7 million XRP, while CME open interest jumped 39.6%. ^[6] The same CryptoSlate model gives a median forecast of $1.47 for XRP, implying a gain of about 8.9%, a bearish estimate of $1.05, and an extreme stress marker of $0.46. ^[7] The SEC and Ripple dismissed their appeals in August 2025, resolving the long-running civil case while leaving a $125 million penalty and injunction in place. ^[8]