After nearly four years, Ripple has officially ended its long-running legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) by agreeing to pay a $125 million fine and drop all ongoing appeals. The SEC is also expected to withdraw its own appeal, marking the end of one of the most high-profile lawsuits in crypto history.
With this legal overhang gone, XRP is now trending—both in price and on Google Trends—as bullish sentiment returns to the market.
Ripple vs SEC: Case Background
The legal drama began in December 2020, when the SEC accused Ripple of illegally raising $1.3 billion through unregistered XRP sales.
In July 2023, U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres ruled that while XRP is not a security when sold on exchanges, Ripple had indeed violated securities laws in institutional sales. The court imposed:
- A $125M penalty
- A permanent ban on unregistered institutional XRP sales
Ripple and the SEC both initially filed appeals, keeping legal uncertainty alive—until now.
2024 U.S. Elections Shifted the Game
The tide turned in November 2024 when Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election. His pro-crypto agenda, including nominating Paul Atkins to replace SEC Chair Gary Gensler, signaled a new era for digital assets.
In early 2025, Ripple and the SEC reached a potential settlement, but the judge rejected the proposed $50M deal. Ripple then opted to accept the court’s ruling rather than continue appealing—closing the case for good.
Ripple Confirms $125M Settlement
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse officially confirmed via X (Twitter) that the company has withdrawn its cross-appeal and will pay the full $125 million penalty.
“We’re closing this chapter and moving forward,” Garlinghouse stated.
Reports suggest that the SEC will soon follow with its own appeal withdrawal, finalizing the long-awaited settlement.
XRP Price Today: Bullish Momentum Builds
- 24-hour gain: +4.3%
- 7-day gain: +2.4%
- Current price: ~$2.19
XRP has turned bullish as traders respond positively to the legal clarity. In just one hour, the price spiked by 0.2%, signaling rising demand.
XRP Price Prediction: How High Could XRP Go?
According to a forecast by Google’s AI-powered model Gemini, the XRP price prediction suggests:
- Short-term target: $3.00 – $3.59
- 12-month potential: $5.00 – $8.00 (with major catalysts)
Key factors influencing XRP’s next rally:
- Spot XRP ETF Approval — Decision deadline: October 2025
- U.S. market expansion post-lawsuit
- New partnerships with global banks (e.g., AEON in Southeast Asia)
- Developer activity on the XRP Ledger
- Interoperability upgrades like Wormhole integration
Analysts estimate a 95% chance that a U.S. XRP ETF gets approved now that legal uncertainty is resolved—something that could trigger massive institutional inflows.
What This Means for XRP Investors
With legal clarity, political support, and ETF momentum, XRP is now better positioned than ever. Ripple’s global partnerships and XRP’s growing utility in cross-border payments could accelerate adoption and drive long-term value.
As XRP trends on Google, investors are asking: Is now the time to buy?
Final TakeawayThe Ripple vs SEC lawsuit is officially over, removing one of the biggest obstacles for XRP. With price gains, AI-based price targets, and high odds of a U.S. ETF, all eyes are now on XRP’s next move.
Never Miss a Beat in the Crypto World!
Stay ahead with breaking news, expert analysis, and real-time updates on the latest trends in Bitcoin, altcoins, DeFi, NFTs, and more.
FAQs
Yes, the Ripple vs. SEC lawsuit is officially over. Ripple has withdrawn its cross-appeal and agreed to pay a $125 million fine, and the SEC is expected to withdraw its appeal as well, marking the final end of the legal battle.
The court ruled that XRP is not a security when sold on exchanges, but Ripple’s institutional sales did violate securities laws. Ripple will pay a $125 million penalty and is permanently banned from unregistered institutional XRP sales.
XRP’s price has responded bullishly, showing a 4.3% gain in 24 hours and a 2.4% gain over the past 7 days, currently trading around $2.19. This indicates positive market sentiment and increasing demand due to legal clarity.
