What Does the $125 Million SEC Settlement Mean for XRP Price?

Ripple’s recent legal developments have made waves in cryptocurrency, particularly for XRP enthusiasts. Ripple has been ordered by a U.S. court to pay a $125 million penalty, which might seem hefty but is a significant win for Ripple, signaling the potential end of the four-year legal battle with the SEC. This outcome is a victory for Ripple and a key moment for the entire U.S. crypto industry.

Unstoppable XRP: Ready for the Next Move?

XRP’s price continues to capture attention. Crypto analyst MackAttackXRP sees bullish signs for XRP, targeting $1.47. In the recent video analysis, Coin Bureau adds that the market sentiment around XRP is increasingly positive, especially following recent legal victories. 

Will XRP finally break through and make a run toward new highs? Let’s see!

July 2023 Ruling: A Mixed Bag

In July 2023, Judge Analisa Torres made a groundbreaking Ripple verdict. She found that Ripple’s OTC sales of XRP to institutional investors were unregistered securities offers, but exchange sales were not. Importantly, Judge Torres did not designate XRP as a security or commodity, making her ruling complex and interpretable.

Ripple and the cryptocurrency sector celebrated this ruling since it suggested that not all crypto transactions are securities. However, Judge Torres’s finding generated numerous questions. She hinted that XRP exchange transactions were not securities in this case but could be in others. This ambiguity allows the SEC to investigate other cryptos or similar cases.

August 2024: The Final Penalty and Ripple’s Response

In August 2024, Ripple was fined $125 million for its institutional sales of XRP—a far cry from the SEC’s initial $2 billion demand. Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer, Stuart Alderoty, expressed satisfaction with the ruling, noting the company would pay the penalty from its solid cash reserves. The court also dismissed the SEC’s request for Ripple to surrender profits from these sales, with the judge emphasizing the lack of evidence showing any harm to investors, marking a notable victory for Ripple.

What’s Next? SEC Appeal on the Horizon

While Ripple seems ready to move on after the court’s ruling, the SEC isn’t backing down. Both sides have until October 6 to appeal, and an SEC appeal is highly likely, given its earlier attempts. If the case heads to an appeals court, Judge Torres’s ruling could be upheld or overturned, impacting the broader crypto industry. Although her decision isn’t binding on other cases yet, it has already influenced ongoing legal battles, like the SEC’s lawsuit against Binance.

Impact on the Crypto Industry

Judge Torres’s ruling, though not yet precedent, is already influencing crypto cases, including dismissals in the Binance case. The SEC’s tough stance on crypto regulation is expected to continue. Currently, Ripple’s partial win offers hope to other crypto firms, with the industry’s future in the U.S. hanging on the case’s outcome and any appeals.